Michelle’s fundraiser for Sight Life
Our very own Michelle Jones is running the Cardiff Half Marathon in support of Sight Life!
Donate here: Michelle Jones is fundraising for Sight Life (justgiving.com)
Michelle said:
“I have worked for Sight Life (the new public name for Cardiff Institute for the Blind CIB) for 37 years. I know, and see the difference we make to blind and partially sighted people daily, and I want to ensure we can keep doing what we do so well – give people hope and be able to live independent, healthy and active lives.
2023 marks the tenth anniversary of the passing of Spiro Sueref a beloved employee of CIB. For us, Spiro embodied the heart and soul of the Institute and epitomised the ‘Shand Spirit’ (taken from old HQ in Shand House) of our extended family of members, volunteers and staff.
Spiro, who lost his sight in a car accident aged 25, was involved in a plethora of CIB groups, clubs and activities. These included the computer room, the poetry, gardening clubs, singing group, befriending service and Cowbridge Insight Group.
Beloved husband to our Teresa Sueref, Spiro always had a ready smile and quip for everyone he met, he cared passionately about the rights of people with sight loss and making a difference to their lives.
An ardent Cardiff City fan who even dyed his hair blue in their honour, Spiro was famed for his Sinatra-like crooning at CIB social occasions and for his amusing and often frank round robin emails under his nom de plume of ‘The Jester.’
Spiro cared deeply about CIB members and the support CIB provides to people with sight loss. We all still miss Spiro, affectionately nicknamed the ‘Greek Leek’, or simply ‘Spi’, and the joy and love of life he brought to us.
Our dedicated staff and volunteers are inspiring and passionate, but we rely on funding and donations to continue our vital work. Everyone knows someone with failing sight, we are here for them. Please help us to help them.
Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity. So it’s the most efficient way to donate – saving time and cutting costs for the charity.”
Please support Michelle and Sight Life by donating here: Michelle Jones is fundraising for Sight Life (justgiving.com)
Thank you!
About Sight Life
Sight Life (formerly Cardiff Institute for the Blind) supports people who are blind or partially sighted in south Wales. In 2020/21 we helped more than 3,000 people in Cardiff, Swansea, RCT (Rhondda Cynon Taf), Neath and Port Talbot.
We provide statutory services to people with sight loss on behalf of the local Councils in Cardiff and Swansea.
In cooperation with the NHS, we provide a support service (ECLO: Eye Clinic Liaison Officer) for patients newly diagnosed with sight loss in University Hospital of Wales (UHW “The Heath”) in Cardiff.
Our aims are to ensure that people with sight loss can take part in all aspects of society, including work and leisure.
We offer a range of training, clubs and activities including audio-described theatre trips, confidence building, cooking, drama, employment support, fitness, gardening, IT, music, photography, rambling and yoga to people with sight loss.
Established in 1865, we are one of Wales’ oldest charities. In spring 2022 we returned to being an independent charity after being part of the UK wide RNIB Group since 2009.
We have approximately a dozen staff and annual income in the region of £440,000 from statutory contracts, grants, trusts, The National Lottery, donations and legacies.
Sight Life changed its name from Cardiff Institute for the Blind in 2019 to reflect the fact that we work beyond Cardiff, including Swansea and RCT (Rhondda Cynon Taf). The name change also recognises the fact that we support people with any degree of sight loss, not only those who are blind.
Please support our work and make a donation to Sight Life by clicking donate here.
Download our Gifts in Wills Brochure: Gifts in Wills leaflet v4 (1)
To fundraise for us please click fundraising.
To volunteer with us please click volunteering.