Local Support
At Blink, we believe in the power of community, the importance of supporting local causes close to our hearts and making a positive impact where it matters most. We hope you enjoy reading about the local causes we’ve supported - if you can support them too even better! And if you have a local fundraising event you would like us to consider please get in touch.
Supporting grassroots sport in Bridge of Allan
Blink Opticians in Bridge of Allan are proud sponsors of Riverside Footbal Club 2011s. Read about how we support grassroots football, promote youth sports, and provide expert advice on protective eyewear for young players. Providing community care, on and off the field.
At Blink, supporting our local community isn’t just something we say - it’s something we genuinely love to do.
We’re proud to have been supporting our local Riverside Football Team, who train at the University of Stirling just outside Bridge of Allan, for the past couple of years - we were lead sponsor of the first ever Wallace Cup in 2024 and most recently sponsor of the Riverside 2011 Football Team for the 24/25 season.
The Wallace Cup 2024
The inargural Wallace Cup and Festival of Football was held by Riverside FC at the University of Stirling from June 15th to 17th 2024. Despite the rainy weather, the event was a massive success, bringing together a vibrant community of football enthusiasts. A total of 168 teams participated, playing a remarkable 492 games over the course of the weekend. With over 2,000 players and 6,000+ visitors, there was a great turnout and the event was a real celebration of youth football at its finest.
Riverside FC, shared their delight about the event's success and the stunning location.
"If we’d had a pound for every time a visiting team mentioned how incredible our surroundings and facilities were… we are so incredibly lucky to call the University of Stirling home!"
The university's picturesque setting and top-notch facilities undoubtedly added to the charm and enjoyment of the event for all participants and spectators.
At Blink, we believe in supporting local initiatives that foster community spirit and promote healthy activities for young people. Sponsoring the Riverside FC Wallace Cup and Festival of Football aligns perfectly with our values, and we were thrilled to see such an incredible turnout and level of enthusiasm from everyone involved.
The Riverside 2011s take over Blink
We’ve had the pleasure of sponsoring the Riverside 2011 Football Team for their 24/25 season, and recently we welcomed some of the team into the practice for an afternoon of fun, laughter… and just a little bit of chocolate!
From the moment they strolled down Henderson Street, we knew we were in for a treat. The boys arrived full of energy and quickly made themselves at home, trying on frames, experimenting with the optical equipment and even taking over the reception desk for a bit. Future optometrists in the making? We wouldn’t be surprised!
They were an absolute credit to their club and their families - polite, friendly, and full of fun. They did make a serious dent in our chocolate stash, but we’ll let them off!
Centrostyle sports frames
During their visit, some of the players tried on our new Centrostyle protective sports frames - a brilliant option for any young player who wears glasses and needs extra eye protection on the field. These specially designed frames are impact-resistant, comfortable, and stay securely in place - perfect when your usual specs just won’t cut it on match day.
At Blink, we’re happy to chat with any parents or carers who want to explore options for sports eyewear or contact lenses for active kids. Safety and performance should go hand in hand and we’re here to help make that happen.
We’re so proud to sponsor the Riverside 2011s and support grassroots sport here in Bridge of Allan. We hope our contribution helps the team continue to flourish. Thanks again to the boys for such a great visit. We hope to see you all again soon!
The team at Blink.
Supporting Sight, One Step at a Time: Laura’s West Highland Way Fundraiser
Blink Optometrist Laura Clancy is walking a stretch of the West Highland Way to raise funds for the Vision Scotland Sight Saving Surgery fund which allows optometrists to nominate patients for life-changing eye surgery who have for one reason or another "fallen through the cracks" of the NHS. These patients may not qualify for treatment via traditional routes or face waits that could be detrimental to their eye health. Laura is training for the walk with her loveable dog Murphy and would really appreciate your support.
👟👣 We are incredibly proud of our Optometrist Laura who on the 21st of September 2024 will be walking a stretch of the West Highland Way to raise money for the Vision Scotland Sight Saving Surgery fund 🚶♀️⛰️
The Vision Scotland Sight Saving Surgery Fund is a vital initiative that supports patients in desperate need of eye care—those who, for various reasons, have "fallen through the cracks" of the NHS. These patients may not qualify for eye surgery or face waits that could be detrimental to their eye health. Thanks to this fund, optometrists can nominate patients who urgently need treatment but cannot access it through traditional routes.
The most common requests for treatment have been from:
📌 carers who are unable to carry out their responsibilities due to poor eye health
📌 car drivers who are below driving standard but who rely on driving for work / care / other essential reasons
📌 workers who require a level of eyesight for their livelihood
📌 those who have lost sight in one eye so risk blindness without treatment
The surgeons and staff at Vision Scotland generously donate their time, ensuring that all funds raised go towards covering the other essential costs associated with surgery, including pre-operative care, theatre use, clinical equipment, and post-surgery care.
Laura will be walking with the Vision Scotland team, some of whom will be running a 44 mile stretch from Fort William to Tyndrum - all in one day! Laura is aiming for 26 miles which is still pretty impressive don't you think? 👍 We couldn’t be prouder of her commitment and dedication to this cause.
If you see Laura and Murphy out training please give them a wave and cheer them on! 🐾 And if you're able to donate, please visit https://www.gofundme.com/visionscotland
Thank you!
Pedalling for a Purpose!
Pedaling for a Purpose! Kevin and Linda Clarke are cycling the Camino de Santiago to support Strathcarron Hospice! Blink is proud to support them with discounted eyewear with Nikon Sports 2 lenses and a donation to their cause.
**Update 15/06/24**
Kevin and Linda have been in touch and asked us to pass on our thanks to you all for the support you gave them on their cycling challenge. They were delighted to have received so many donations for Strathcarron Hospice in memory of their friend Pat.
They arrived safely in Santiago after 900kms and 21 days of cycling, and managed to persuade a lovely Spanish lady to take a photo of them wearing their Strathcarron Hospice cycling jerseys and their Blink sunglasses! You can also see them holding a photo of their dear friend Pat who received compassionate care at the Hospice and was the inspiration for their incredible challenge.
They wrote "It was an even harder journey than we anticipated, although we have been blessed by fantastic weather. The best we've ever had on a Camino."
Congratulations Kevin and Linda on your oustanding achievement!
Original Post
🚴♀️🚴♂️ Meet Kevin and Linda Clarke, our amazing patients who will be cycling the Camino de Santiago to support Strathcarron Hospice! 🌟 They're on a mission to raise funds in memory of a dear friend, who received compassionate care at the Hospice. 🚴♀️🚴♂️
Blink is proud to support them on their journey with discounted eyewear and a donation to their cause. Kevin, equipped with Sports 2 lenses in his trusted Oakley frames, is all set for the road ahead, ensuring clear vision for every twist and turn. The lenses are perfect for distance but also for gazing down to his Garmin at arm’s length. 🕶️🛣️ His verdict? "Amazing!" 🌈✨
Kevin and Linda plan to cycle the Camino del Norte from San Sebastián to Oviedo, and then head into the mountains of Asturias on the Camino Primitivo - a very demanding route!
Please join us in cheering them on and showing your support by visiting their fundraising page: https://www.strathcarronhospice.net/fundraisers/where-theres-a-will
Best of luck Kevin and Linda, from the team at Blink!
You can keep up-to-date on their progress via their blog: https://kevinandlindatravel.wordpress.com
The gift of Vision and Style
Blink has supported many local fundraisers by donating Blink gift vouchers as raffle prizes which can be used on any of our products and services including our stylish frames, sunglasses and contact lenses!
We have a range of gift vouchers available at Blink which can be used on any of our products and services including our stylish frames, sunglasses and contact lenses! We have proudly donated our gift vouchers to support various local causes, including fundraisers for our local Bridge of Allan primary school. It's just one of the ways we try to give back and make a positive impact where it matters most.
Making your purchase count!
Blink, Bridge of Allan is proud to have worked with Nikon to support the Trussel Trust charity to help stop UK poverty and hunger 🫶 and grateful to patients for making their purchase count!
In July and August of 2023 we worked with Nikon to support the Trussel Trust charity by making a donation with every pair of spectacles ordered with a Nikon Seecoat coating (SeeCoat Next, SeeCoat Drive, SeeCoat Bright, SeeCoat Blue Premium UV, SeeCoat Plus UV and Pure Blue UV).
The Trussel Trust support a nationwide network of food banks (including 43 in Scotland) and together they provide emergency food and support to people facing hardship, and campaign for change to end the need for food banks in the UK.
Together with Nikon Lenswear UK and other participating practices, we raised £14,030 for the Trussell Trust.
We are so proud to have supported this fantastic cause and we’re grateful to YOU our wonderful patients for making your purchase count!
Thank you from the team at Blink
IndiRow23 & MollyOlly
Blink patient Allan Huntly rowed across the Indian Ocean from Perth, Australia to Mauritius as part of the Indirow23 team to raise funds and awareness for Parkinson's disease research. He took with him a cuddly lion cub called Olly who represents Molly Ollys Wishes, a charity that provides wishes to children with life threatening illnesses. Blink donated to both charities and provided Allan with 2 pairs of high performance sunglasses to use on his voyage.
In May 32 Allan Huntly, one of our patients, and his cuddly lion cub Olly, set off on a courageous journey rowing across the Indian Ocean from Perth, Australia to Mauritius as part of the Indirow23 team to raise funds and awareness for Parkinson's disease research.
To help Allan on his journey, we provided him with Oakley and Under Armour sunglasses to protect his eyes from the harsh sun and keep him rowing safely.
After a whopping 69 days of unsupported rowing, Allan and the rest of the IndiRow23 crew arrived in Mauritius! We are so impressed and proud to have supported Allan and loved seeing the pictures of him arriving, looking slightly hairier than when he departed, but still looking super cool in his shades! 😎
Find out more about Parkinsons here: https://www.parkinsons.org.uk/
The adorable Olly represents Molly Ollys Wishes Charity who provide wishes to children with life threatening illnesses for a gift, equipment or an experience to help them cope through their dark days. They've also developed this therapeutic toy lion called Olly The Brave which is donated free of charge to each child. Olly has his own line and also has a detachable mane that helps to explain and normalise the hair-loss that comes with many types of chemotherapy. To find out more about this amazing charity visit https://mollyolly.co.uk/
Blink is incredibly proud to have donated to both charities. Well done and congratulations from the team at Blink, Bridge of Allan
Rock to Rome 2023 🚴♂️😎
In May 2023 Bridge of Allan local Johnny Dreczkowski cycled from Stirling Castle to The Colosseum in Rome, solo and unsupported, to raise money for the Eilidh Brown Respite Home.
Blink supplied Johnny with Oakley frames and a donation of £300, with Nikon Lenswear UK sponsoring the lenses.
In May 2023 Johnny Dreczkowski from Bridge of Allan cycled from Stirling Castle to The Colosseum in Rome, Italy, solo and unsupported, to raise money for the Eilidh Brown Respite Home. His journey involved cycling over 1,400 miles or so from Scotland to England, across Central Europe through The Netherlands, Germany, Austria, south through The Austrian Alps, over The Brenner Pass into the Dolomite Mountains of northeast Italy, down onto the Adriatic Coast and Venice, before crossing southwest, up and over the formidable Apennine Mountain range to his destination, The Colosseum, in Rome.
Six countries, over 3 1/2 weeks, over 1,400 miles of cycling, 74,000 feet of climbing through Europe’s highest mountain ranges, solo, unsupported. A very impressive accomplishment!
Blink supplied Johnny with Oakley frames and a donation of £300 with Nikon Lenswear UK sponsoring the lenses. The lenses were from Nikon's Seemax sports 2 range which provide flexibility for nearer viewing without compromising distance performance, giving dynamic vision. With high contrast brown lenses and a performance orange mirror all to make the contrast on his cycle better and clearer.😎🚴♂️
We are in absolute awe of Johnny’s acheivement - congratulations from everyone here at Blink!
Find Johnny’s RockToRome pages on Facebook or Instagram - he’s always up to something interesting. There’s talk of a Rock to Rome 2024!
“A big shout out to the team at Blink - Bridge of Allan for their very generous sponsorship, and supplying me with these superb Nikon sports lenses in an Oakley frame for my cycling challenge. The new Nikon lenses reduce road glare, sharpen my long distance for upcoming hazards whilst enabling me to read on-bike instrumentation, and the Oakley frames provide sports-tested stability so there’s no fidgeting to get them back in position. Go and see Mandy and Laura at Blink Opticians for a professional and friendly service.“ Johnny Dreczkowski
On Par with Community Support
Blink proudly sponsors the 4th tee at Bridge of Allan Golf Club and offers members 20% discount on sports eyewear.
We are thrilled to be sponsoring the 4th tee at Bridge of Allan Golf Club.
Not only that...we're offering 20% discount on sports eyewear to all Bridge of Allan Golf Club members!
We’re lucky to have such a fabulous golf club on our doorstep - the 9-hole course which has been described as ‘one of Scotland’s national treasures’ sits on the hill above Bridge of Allan and is a fantastic way to relax and take in the beauty of the Forth Valley.
Just like the precision and accuracy required in golf, we provide the same level of attention to detail when it comes to your eye care needs. We recommend SeeMax Sports lenses by Nikon. Available in over 25 specially designed and selected colours, SeeMax Sports offers a solution to cater for every sports environment. Adaptable to all frame styles including fashion and wrapped frames, we can fit Seemax Sports lenses to your existing frames or choose new ones from some of the best brands in the business, including Oakley, MauiJim and RayBan.