WETHERBY, UK – A dedicated volunteer from East Witton, England, has been commended for her work with an international sight charity.
Michele de Vaal, 54, received an outstanding contribution award from Vision Aid Overseas, which provides free eye tests and glasses to people in some of the world’s most deprived areas.
As well as making 10 trips to Ethiopia, where she has fitted thousands of people with spectacles, Michele also raised the charity’s profile by taking late TV presenter Richard Whiteley’s glasses to the African country – a project covered by BBC’s Inside Out programme.
Michele, who works as an optician’s assistant in Ripon, said she was delighted to have received the award.
“It’s just a total shock,” she said.
“I’m thrilled. We all work really hard for the charity and it’s nice to be appreciated and to know you are doing the job right.”
She received the award on Saturday night at Birmingham’s Aston Business Centre.
Michele has worked with Vision Aid Overseas since 1998, and organises its projects in Ethiopia.
“I was invited to be the country leader because I was getting to know – and love – the place through my trips there,” she said.
“We have clinics there where we dispense spectacles. I take three or four thousand pairs of glasses and then when optometrists have tested people’s eyes, I match the glasses to the patients.”