Three hundred pairs of recycled reading glasses collected in Cromwell have reached a remote hospital in Nepal, thanks to a community effort and a special courier connection.

The glasses were delivered to Khunde Hospital in the Everest region after Peter Hillary, the son of Sir Edmund Hillary, offered to transport them during a trip to Nepal.

Peter connected with the local project after a conversation at the launch of Cromwell mountaineer Kim Logan’s new book.

The glasses were collected and sorted by Cromwell resident Andy Andrews on behalf of the Cromwell Lake Dunstan Lions Club.  

Ladies Lions volunteers then washed, tested and packaged each pair, before the glasses began their long journey. 

They were couried to Auckland, picked up by Peter and flown to Nepal, helicoptered from Lukla to the Everest View Hotel at 3900 metres, carried by porter to Khunde Hospital, and finally handed to the

local optometrist. 

Andy said it was “quite the journey”. 

He has coordinated the glasses rehoming project for six years, taking over a long-running Lions initiative that once focused on Fiji but now reaches communities around the world. 

Glasses sorted in Cromwell have travelled to Tonga, Vanuatu, Cambodia, Zambia, Fiji and, now, the Khumbu region of Nepal.

Andy said Central Otago Aramex had been a great help with logistics. 

All donated glasses are checked, washed with an ultrasonic cleaner, and tested on a lens meter to record their prescription.  

Each pair is packaged with its readings, so qualified staff in receiving hospitals can safely match glasses to patients. 

“We’re not fixing anyone’s eyesight, but we’re giving them something to read with when they couldn’t normally read,” Andy said.  

“We got an email from Zambia once – three people signed it and said, ‘Thank you, I can read the computer now’.” 

He said he was grateful for the steady stream of donations to the cause.

“I probably get about 100 pairs a week dropped off or sent to me at my house,” he said. 

“It’s only because of the locals that we’re able to make a difference to somebody’s life.” 

The project accepts used prescription glasses, reading glasses, and sunglasses.  

Central Otago residents can drop them to any Lions member or to Andy directly. Andy can be contacted on 021 842 346.