Kindhearted Asif's big charity gesture

10:50am Saturday 26th July 2008

Comments (0)   Have your say »

TEENAGER Asif Irfan gave up the chance of a taste of luxury motoring after winning a school competition.

He was the envy of his chums when he scooped £150 in a prize draw at Derby High School to pay for a plush limo to take him to the glittering leavers’ ball.

But kind-hearted Asif decided to forego the luxury of the limousine and instead donated the money to Sightsavers International.

The 16-year-old said he became aware of the charity, which works to prevent blindness in the developing world, after seeing an advert on television. And he had no hesitation in asking that the £150 top prize he won in the draw should go to Sightsavers so that others less fortunate could be helped.

Asif says that people without sight cannot always support themselves, but have to depend on the help of family and friends. Sightsavers International works in 33 countries across Africa, Asia and the Caribbean to help stop blindness and to restore sight. The charity also campaigns for equal rights for people who are blind and visually impaired.

It costs just £17 to restore sight to somebody suffering from cataracts through a simple 20-minute operation and Asif’s donation will go a long way to transforming the lives of individuals in some of the most disadvantaged countries in the world.