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This World Sight Day (today, Thursday October 10th), Fuelworx and eye care charity Orbis UK have come together to launch an innovative fuel donation programme to connect Fuelworx clients to the work of the Orbis Flying Eye Hospital.

Every customer who uses Fuelworx to re-fuel will be given the option to donate to support Orbis’s sight-saving work as part of their transaction.

Orbis, which operates the world’s only ophthalmic hospital on board an MD-10 aircraft, prevents and treats avoidable blindness in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, where access to vital eye care can be scarce. The charity works with world-class medical volunteers, who share their skills with local eye care teams - both onboard the aircraft and in partner hospitals - so that more people with avoidable blinding conditions can be treated within their communities.

The Orbis Flying Eye Hospital is truly unique and houses a lecture theatre, operating theatre, recovery room and laser suite. Two vital aviation fuel-based generators - with a capacity of 60 US gallons each - operate for around 10 hours a day during the plane’s two to three-week treatment and training programmes. These ensure the medical teaching facility and its equipment can run smoothly and without interruptions whilst doctors and nurses are trained, and patients receive treatment.

• $20 of suspended fuel could run the operating theatre for one hour or the classroom and support equipment

• $200 of suspended fuel could run the two generators for ½ day supporting the operating theatre, chillers, med-gas unit, aircraft power and classroom

• $400 of suspended fuel could run both generators for one day

• $2000 of suspended fuel could run the Flying Eye Hospital for one week of a programme

Jennette Bentley, General Manager at Flightworx Aviation Ltd said: “Flightworx is proud to be a supporter of Orbis and the Flying Eye Hospital. We have been working closely with the charity since March 2017, and we’re excited to launch this innovative fuel donation programme to enable our customers to support their important sight saving work.”

Kathryn Sweet, Head of Corporate Partnerships at Orbis UK commented: “We’re thrilled to be working with Flightworx on this project. Donating fuel for our aircraft is a really unique way for their clients to support our Flying Eye Hospital programmes and in turn, transform lives across the world.”

Of the 253 million people in the world who are blind or visually impaired, 75% have conditions that are preventable or treatable. Orbis screens for and treats eye conditions, raises awareness about eye health, and trains and mentors local eye care teams to ensure people have access to the eye care they deserve, regardless of where they were born.

To learn how you can fuel up and help restore a person’s sight visit: www.flightworx.aero/orbis/

BlueSky Business Aviation News | 10th October 2019 | Issue #528

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