e-Newsletter August 2023

ProQR announces new partnership for inherited sight loss therapies
Biotechnology company ProQR has announced that two of its RNA therapy development programmes for Usher and Leber Congenital Amaurosis are being acquired by Laboratoires Thea, a company specialising in eye care products.

Find out more: https://retinauk.org.uk/news/proqr-announces-agreement-with-laboratoires-thea-for-inherited-retinal-disease-programmes/

In 2022 we:
Raised: £1,562,632
Invested: £624,853 in medical research
Spent: £615,141 on information and support

Christmas cards
As we come to the end of summer, now is a great time to stock up on your Retina UK Christmas cards! Priced at £3 and designed by artist Tina Wray, who has retinitis pigmentosa and glaucoma and has less than 5% vision remaining, you can visit our website to buy yours today: https://retinauk.org.uk/shop

Great Bake
The new series of The Great British Bake Off is coming and we would love for you to organise your own bake sales and share your recipes with us. Get involved and join our Great Bake campaign: https://retinauk.org.uk/event/great-bake-2023/.

London Marathon
We only have one place left in next year’s London Marathon 2024! To run for Retina UK and take on a challenge of a lifetime, please visit https://retinauk.org.uk/event/2024-tcs-london-marathon/ to register your interest and we will be in touch to discuss further.

Halloween Campaign
We will be launching an exciting Halloween campaign on our social media pages on 31 August, so make sure you follow us to find out more about what we’re up to.

Remember A Charity Week
Remember A Charity Week is coming up in mid-September and if you’d be interested in finding out more about making a will, please visit https://retinauk.org.uk/get-involved/donate/remember-retinauk-in-your-will/.

Chat with other people living with inherited sight loss at one of our free upcoming Local Peer Support Group meetings.

West Midlands
Saturday 26 August, 11.00am – In-person
Visiting the Black Country Living Museum in Dudley.

Edinburgh
Saturday 2 September, 1.00pm – 3.00pm – In-person
Hear from guest speaker Dr Roly Megaw, Clinical Lecturer and Honorary Consultant Ophthalmologist at University of Edinburgh and NHS Lothian, who will be speaking about his current research into inherited retinal dystrophies.

Kent
Wednesday 6 September, 11.00am – 2.00pm – In-person
In-person social meet up over coffee at Starbucks in Maidstone.

‘Talking-tech’
Thursday 7 September, 7.00pm – 8.00pm – Online
We discuss all things A.I and how we integrate it into our daily lives.

Isle of Wight
Monday 11 September, 11am – In-person
Social meet up over coffee at the Alamo restaurant in Ryde.

West Yorkshire Peer Support Group Meeting
Tuesday 19 September, 7pm – 8pm – Online
Guest speaker Dave Steele, The Blind Poet.

National Peer Support Group
Tuesday 26 September, 7.00pm – 8.00pm
June Little, Chair of Trustees at the Cotswold Listener and Trustee of Talking News Federation joins us. Come along and join us to find out more about talking newspapers across the UK.

Find out more and register at: https://retinauk.org.uk/information-and-support/services/local-peer-support-groups/

On this episode Laura Tyler, Yanan Yu, and Steve Golden talk about their experiences with learning and playing instruments, and how people with sight loss can do so no matter their level of vision.

Listen at: https://retinauk.org.uk/information-and-support/services/local-peer-support-groups/

We are thrilled to announce that we have a number of new team members. We are excited to have them join Retina UK and contribute their skills and expertise.

Please join us in extending a warm welcome to:

James Clarke, Events and Community Fundraising Manager

Verity Postgate-Cronbach, Volunteer Coordinator

Clare Bailey, Fundraising Administrator