Town unites for sight

A SUN-DRENCHED day delighted organisers of a charity event in Bognor Regis.

Students behind Unite4Sight saw the community combine to create a day with a difference in Hotham Park.

They hope to have raised some £1,500 for the town-based 4Sight Vision Support charity when final takings are received from the range of fundraising activities such as tin can alley, coconut shy, silent auction, raffle and tombola.

Events management degree students at the University of Chichester are in the final week of their three-year course and arranged a six-hour spectacular of sound and colour to count towards their final grades.

At least 3,000 people were thought to have gone along to join in the fun. Among them was Colin McHale, 25, of Haslemere, and his family.

"We came here for the day out and came across this event," he said. "It's good. It's a family event, it's got live music and it's free.

"There's lots of stalls and food and drink available as well.

"I think the students have done very well and I expect we'll be here for a couple of hours."

The six organisers spent seven months making arrangements for the bandstand performances and the some 20 stalls to take place.

Joint organiser Jodie Brazil said: "Putting this event on has been a real rollercoaster. It's had its ups and it's certainly had its downs.

"But, overall, it's been the most amazing experience, especially as it's for charity. I would say I've learned more from this than anything else while I've been at university."

One of her fellow organisers, Lois Pretty, said seeing all the preparations come to life had made the hard work worthwhile.

"We called today Unite4Sight because we wanted to bring everyone together to help people with sight problems.

"4Sight is also a local charity and it's perfect for bringing the community together. Putting on this event has certainly shown us the importance of organisation skills and communication.

"Teamwork is also vital. Without that, none of this would have happened. Because we have worked so well together, today has gone really well," she said.

Each hour of the day featured a different genre of music, from bands like The Beaten Tracks, Luna Blue, The Dolomites and Ben Harvey.

Young dancers go through their moves

Suzanne Hill School of Dance also staged a performance and the Batala Samba Band made for a noisy opening.

A colour dance in which those taking part were drenched in a rainbow of brightness proved popular. Disney zumba and Disney music also got many visitors moving.

The colour dance proved popular

4Sight outreach worker and technology manager Dan Batchelor said: "This event is fantastic for us. It's all about raising awareness and it's helping us to do that.

"Being here is a good way for people to know about our services. It's always good for us to be out in the community.

"Not many people know about sight loss. Unless a person has sight loss, or knows someone who is living with it, people avoid the subject at all costs because they don't like to think about it."

The charity is based in Victoria Drive and has services across West Sussex.

It is also set to join with Specsavers in Bognor Regis on July 7 to promote the link between the diagnosis of an eye condition and the help available.

"We know that link is lacking, not just locally but nationally, and we want people to know how they can be helped," he added.