A Burnham-On-Sea hotel’s fundraising music night has raised hundreds of pounds to help buy a Braille reader for a five year-old local girl who is registered blind.
The Royal Clarence Hotel on the town’s seafront held a successful Karaoke and Pop Quiz Night on Saturday March 21st in aid of the group Olivias Lights.
Paul Chatwin, from the hotel, said: “The final amount raised for Olivias Lights was a staggering £635.49. Well done to everyone who purchased raffle tickets, joined in the music quiz, paid to sing, donated wages on the night and just made that special effort to help towards the urgently-needed Smart Brailler for little Olivia.”
Olivia’s mum, Emma-Louise Hearle, had said: “Olivia is my five year-old beautiful daughter who is registered blind. She has not had a full diagnosis as of yet but had a mild form of a condition called joubert syndrome which affects her motability and balance, but most of all affects her vision.”
“On top of this, during summer 2014 she developed a type of glaucoma in her left eye which took away the little vision she had in that eye. Now Olivia is at school she has begun to learn Braille. Braillers are unfortunately very costly and are quite bulky so the one she has from Vision Support in our local area has to stay there.”
“I would love for her to have one at home for the future that myself and her seven year-old brother can learn with her. When we have reached the goal of being able to get a Brailler, I’m aiming to be able to install a sensory room in our local area for families to use.”
