Ophthalmology Residents and Staff Are Competing and Getting Sweaty to Restore Sight

This World Sight Day, ophthalmology residents and department staff at four universities across Canada will Sweat for Sight and compete to raise money and awareness for Seva Canada’s eye care programs in low-income countries. 

Residents and department staff at McGill University, University of Toronto, University of Alberta and the University of British Columbia will be participating in a variety of sweaty fitness activities from bootcamps to volleyball and basketball while fundraising to provide eye care to some of the most marginalized people in low-income countries. The competition is two-fold, to raise the most money and to win the fitness challenge.

Dr. Vivian Yin, Seva Canada Board member and an ophthalmologist, came up with this friendly competition because she knows the tremendous impact restoring sight has on an individual, their family, and their community.

"I would rather die than lose my vision.’ This is a phrase that I hear all too often as an ophthalmologist. I see firsthand the importance of vision on an individual’s quality of life, independence and fulfillment especially when I travel to Seva’s programs to train local ophthalmologists on the latest surgical techniques. I knew that Seva Canada’s annual Sweat for Sight event would be a really engaging way to get the ophthalmology residents and department staff to get involved, raise awareness and have a little friendly competition.” – Dr. Vivian Yin

Each resident and department staff team have a captain to encourage them to be their sweaty best so they can win and earn very valuable bragging rights. The resident teams have been given a headstart with a $1000 gift to their fundraising pages generously donated by Dr. Vivian Yin.

Eyecare Everywhere, the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness’ theme for this year’s World Sight Day, perfectly aligns with Seva Canada’s vision of a world in which no one is needlessly blind or visually impaired.

Canadians across the nation can also get involved by doing their own sweaty activity to raise awareness and funds to give the power of sight to those in need or by attending a by-donation fitness class in their area. For a full list of participating studios or gyms visit seva.ca/sweatforsight2018 

You can also support the Department of Ophthalmology residents or staff by donating to their fundraising pages. 

  • McGill University
    • Staff and residents will be competing in a bootcamp class with Montreal Bootcamp on Oct.11th
    • Donate to the residents here
    • Donate to the staff here
  • University of BC
    • Staff and residents will be competing in bootcamp class with Fit Body Boot Camp on Oct.20th
    • Donate to the residents here
    • Donate to the staff here
  • University of Toronto
    • Staff and residents will be competing in bootcamp class with FitSquad on Oct.20th
    • Donate to the residents here
    • Donate to the staff here
  • University of Alberta
    • Staff and residents will be competing in volleyball and basketball at the Kinsmen Sports Centre on Oct.20th 
    • Donate to the residents here
    • Donate to the staff here

Sight Stories and News

  • A Couple Who Gets Glasses Together...

    Sat Sari and her husband Kouoy Long have done everything together for four decades, and two years ago they also began to lose their vision together. They had to rely on their children and grandchildren for help as their vision deteriorated. Then they went to a screening camp being held in their village...

    Sight stories | February 6th, 2024
  • Reaching for the Stars - Jaonah's Story

    By eight years old, Jaonah had completely lost his sight. His mother had to stop working and stay at home to take care of him, putting even more financial strain on the family. Imagine what it must feel like, watching your child’s vision disappear — and along with it, all the opportunities that come with healthy vision. “My biggest worry? That he would die,” his father shared in a soft voice. “When I was walking, I couldn’t see. It was really scary,” recalled Jaonah.

    Sight stories | November 20th, 2023
  • Her Future in Sight

    When one-year-old Jojo was only two months old, her mother, Adidja, noticed a white dot in her left eye. Adidja had no idea what was happening to her baby, so she rushed to the nearest pharmacy, where she received eye drops. But the white dot continued to grow, and Adidja began to notice with growing alarm that Jojo’s vision was affected. 

    Sight stories | October 24th, 2023