Opticians use their heads to fundraise

Staff at Specsavers in Exeter donned their favourite hats today to raise money for Brain Tumour Research’s Wear A Hat Day.

Stephen Auty, store director at Specsavers Exeter, says: "Eye exams can be a vital tool in detecting brain tumours from an early stage but the rest is up to the hard work of the hospitals and Brain Tumour Research. This is our small way of helping to raise awareness of the fantastic work that the charity does."

Specsavers Exeter is equipped with the latest ophthalmic technology including a state-of-the-art digital retinal camera. This takes a digital image of the back of the eye, known as the fundus, and can detect signs of various health conditions including diabetes, high blood pressure, glaucoma and even life-threatening tumours. Specsavers offers the service at no extra charge to all customers over the age of 40 or when otherwise deemed appropriate by the optometrist.

Sue Farrington Smith, Chief Executive of Brain Tumour Research, says: "Wear A Hat Day is a fun way of increasing awareness and getting people raising money for an often overlooked form of cancer. From school children in sombreros to nurses in night caps, Wear A Hat Day represents the coming together of the brain tumour community to raise funds, but is also a great message of hope, solidarity and support for the patients and families whose lives have been devastated by the diagnosis of a brain tumour."

To donate to Brain Tumour Research or to book an eye examination, visit 247-248 High Street, Exeter, Devon EX4 3PZ, call the store on 01392 210604, or go to www.specsavers.co.uk/stores/exeter