GETTING into the spirit of Halloween, opticians at Henshaw Parade held a cake bake to raise funds for St Luke’s Hospice.
The team at Specsavers Hendon donned fancy dress costumes as part of their fundraising with customers donating to the delicious cakes on offer.
Priti Panchal, store manager, says: ‘We really wanted to support the charity, make a difference and raise awareness around the care they provide to the community. Halloween has grown in popularity, so the team and our customers really got behind us and were incredibly generous.
‘We also raised awareness around eye care, the use of novelty contact lenses especially at Halloween, and the importance of having a sight test because it can pick up underlying health conditions.’
Birju Lakhani, director at Specsavers Hendon, adds: ‘We’re very grateful to the generosity of our customers and the team for their donations and creating a fun, lively Halloween atmosphere, with the aim of raising money for a worthy cause.’
Founded in 1987 by local communities, the St Luke’s Hospice offers expert end-of-life palliative care for people across Harrow and Brent. The charity relies heavily on donations from the local community to provide this care to their patients.
With a focus on providing a holistic and person-centred approach to care, specialising not only on physical comfort but also on emotional, social, and spiritual wellbeing. Patients are supported at home and also in the beautiful and historic setting of Kenton Grange, with its tranquil and relaxing gardens where patients can relax and enjoy their surroundings.
Jo Pearce, Director of Fundraising and Communications, St Luke’s Hospice comments: ‘Our aim is to give the people we care for the best possible quality of life, each and every day. Supporting local people and their families is at the heart of what we do – focusing on what matters the most to them is at the centre of our care.
‘As we rely heavily on donations to support our care provision, we’re thrilled that the team at Specsavers Hendon have supported us this week with their cake bake and Halloween celebration.’
The team raised over £60 which will be donated to St Luke’s for respite care.
Specsavers Hendon, located within Sainsbury’s, offers customers three testing rooms which have the latest state-of-the-art pre-room testing diagnostic equipment. There is also a soundproof hearing room so customers can have their hearing tested, coupled with the latest micro-suction equipment to clear blocked ears.
Customers can choose to have an OCT (Optical Coherence Tomography) 3D scan, which is hospital-grade, advanced diagnostic, eye-scanning equipment that helps detect several eye conditions, including glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy. It can detect eye conditions up to four years ahead of them presenting via a standard eye test. Customers pay an extra £10 for the scan.
To book in for a sight or hearing test, you can contact Specsavers Hendon on 020 372 50687. Alternatively, you can book online at https://www.specsavers.co.uk/stores/hendonsainsburys
Store opening times are Monday to Saturday 9am to 6pm, and Sunday from 11am until 5pm. The practice and clinics are on one level with nearby disabled bays to offer eye care for all.
For those who can’t leave their homes unaccompanied due to disability or illness, Specsavers also offers a Home Visits service covering more than 90% of the UK – with more details available at www.specsavers.co.uk/home-eye-tests.
