For over 30 years, guests at the interzum trade fair in Cologne, the most important trade fair for Blum, have been signing the visitors' book at the Blum stand in support of a charity drive – this year, the beneficiary organization was once again ‘Light for the World’. An impressive €100,530 (about $148,000 at time of publication) was donated to this international aid organization.
For Blum, the charity drive as part of the interzum trade fair in Cologne has a long tradition: 32 years ago, Blum first began supporting charity organizations instead of handing out giveaways to visitors.
This year, the fittings manufacturer once again asked visitors at interzum to sign the visitors' book at the Blum trade fair stand.
"We donate € 30 for every signature – that's the price for an eye operation", says managing director Gerhard E. Blum.
"We have been supporting ‘Light for the World‘ for many years now and with our donation, we are able to help children and older people, the weakest members of society." For the sixth time, the Austrian-based organization that operates internationally was chosen as the beneficiary of the charity drive. Its focus lies on helping blind and visually impaired people in the poorest areas of the globe.
Every five seconds, an adult in the Third World loses his or her sight and every minute, a child in the Third World goes blind. Cataracts are responsible for approximately 50% of all cases of blindness worldwide. In a 15-minute operation that costs € 30, the clouded lens can be replaced by an artificial one, thereby saving the patient's eyesight.
