A Quarter Can Prevent A Child From Going Blind

Main Category: Eye Health / Blindness
Also Included In: Pediatrics / Children's Health
Article Date: 14 May 2008 - 3:00 PDT

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You can't buy many newspapers for a quarter anymore, but with that same twenty-five cents you can buy a year's supply of vitamin A for a child in need. Affecting up to 140 million children every year, vitamin A deficiencies that go untreated can result in the child going blind before age 6, however vitamin A, given to a child twice a year for four years, can prevent blindness forever.

Throughout May, The Vitamin Shoppe will accept cash donations on behalf of Vitamin Angels' most aggressive campaign to date, Operation 20/20. The goal of Operation 20/20 is to eradicate childhood blindness caused by vitamin A deficiency (VAD) worldwide by the year 2020. The Operation 20/20 campaign will alleviate vitamin A deficiency by providing just two high-dose vitamin A capsules to children ages 1 to 4 and lactating mothers each year for a course of four to five years.

Last year, Operation 20/20 reached over 7 million children, mothers and babies in 17 countries around the world to prevent VAD childhood blindness. In addition to the vitamin A, all the children received de-worming medicine to improve the absorption of the vitamin A and help combat intestinal parasites.

"The Vitamin Shoppe is very supportive of the work being accomplished by Vitamin Angels," said Tony Truesdale, president and chief merchandising officer of The Vitamin Shoppe. "To help support their tremendous efforts, this year we've added a new limited edition t-shirt to help raise money. The shirts are available for a donation of $10 while supplies last. We know our loyal customers will join us in supporting this important initiative to end childhood blindness."

"We're proving that vitamins work, period. They're effective, the results are dramatic and they are a clear solution to major global health problems," says Howard Schiffer, founder of Vitamin Angels. "It's hard to debate the benefits of vitamins when we are literally seeing the difference everyday and Vitamin Shoppe is helping to make that possible."

On-line customers can also donate with each purchase at http://www.vitaminshoppe.com and can receive a t-shirt for a donation of $10 or more.

Vitamin Shoppe