Celebrities frame up for charity

Paul Ellis. Photo / Herald on Sunday

Kiwi celebs have surrendered their old specs in a bid to help restore sight to people in poverty-stricken countries.

Paul Ellis, Peter Urlich, Simon Dallow and Shortland Street's Amanda Billing were among those who donated their old glasses to OneSight, an organisation dedicated to improving vision.

The donated glasses were given to staff at OPSM, who will measure new prescription lenses before they are distributed to third world clinics. The celebs' glasses were shipped to South Africa.

OneSight estimates it will need up to two million recycled glasses each year to meet global demand. The organisation says about four per cent of the world's population cannot see because they have no access to or cannot afford eye care.

Ellis said he had changed his frames regularly over the years.

"However, I never dispensed with the glasses just in case I required a back-up pair," he said.

"So when OneSight contacted me I was happy to pass over four sets of glasses that will now be re-used for a valuable cause."

His glasses were matched to Ntokozo, a schoolboy in South Africa.

OPSM staff will take all donations of old glasses at stores nationwide from tomorrow.