A unique charity drive conducted for over 30 years in the Blum stand at the Interzum trade fair in Cologne has been funding eye operations in third world countries, and helping the visually impaired with the precious gift of sight.

For Blum, the charity drive at the Interzum trade fair represents a long tradition, which began 32 years ago when the company first began supporting charity organisations instead of handing out giveaways to visitors.

Once again this year, the fittings manufacturer asked visitors at the Interzum to sign the visitors' book at the Blum trade fair stand. Managing Director Gerhard E. Blum explains that Blum donates € 30 for every visitor’s signature, equivalent to the cost of an eye operation. The beneficiary organisation, ‘Light for the World’ is an Austrian charity that operates internationally and focusses on helping blind and visually impaired people in some of the most disadvantaged areas of the globe.

The organisation was selected by Blum as the beneficiary for the sixth time with an impressive € 100,530 being donated for their work.

Cataracts are responsible for approximately 50% of all cases of blindness worldwide. However, a 15-minute operation that costs € 30 can save the patient’s eyesight by replacing the clouded lens with an artificial one.

Light for the World facilitates cataract operations, sets up hospitals and supports the training of eye specialists and opticians in some of the most vulnerable regions of the world. Working towards a goal of conquering trachoma by 2020, the charity organisation has, in recent years, performed more than 50,000 cataract operations in Africa, Asia, Latin America and South-Eastern Europe, thus restoring eyesight to people who would have otherwise become blind for life.

This tremendous achievement was only made possible thanks to those visitors that attended the Blum stand at the Interzum trade fair and signed the visitors’ book.