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 STUDENT HELPS VILLAGERS TO SEE MORE CLEARLY Wednesday, September 19, 2007
TOMS RIVER, NJ -- Neal Athwal, a Toms River High School South
senior, raised $8,500 and collected over 1,000 pairs of used eyeglasses to donate to
Himalayan Healthcare. The donations were sent directly to a free health clinic in Ilam,
Nepal where volunteer physicians provide healthcare services to people in the village and
surrounding areas. The donated money went directly to purchasing ophthalmic equipment
for use at the clinic.
"The entire school district is proud of Neal and his dedication to this project," said
Superintendent of Schools Michael J. Ritacco. "He took an idea and made it a reality. In the
process, he not only improved himself, but made a difference in a lot of people's lives."
Neal's interest in this project started when he learned that the only "equipment" being used
at the clinic to administer eye exams was a paper chart hanging on a wall. He then started
a letter writing campaign to solicit funds to help purchase up-to-date medical equipment for
the clinic.
He was also compelled to help because of his own battle with a life-threatening disease.
"When I was nine-years-old, I was diagnosed with ITP (idiopathic thrombocytopenia), a
serious and potentially life-threatening illness where your body stops making platelets which
are essential for blood clotting," wrote Neal. "Because of the availability of quick and accurate
tests and great medical and hospital care in the United States, my condition was rapidly treated
and thankfully cured. I think back on my own experience with ITP and realize how fortunate we
are here in the United States to have the medical care that we do. I hope that we can work
together to bring that kind of treatment to the people in Ilam."
On August 16, 2007, Neal traveled to Nepal, along with his father, Dr. Barinder "Tony" Athwal,
and sister, Lisa, to visit the Ilam Clinic. At that time, they delivered the used eyeglasses, which
they had measured for prescription strength, and they fit them to individual villagers in Ilam.
Also during their week at the clinic, they ran the first-ever eye clinic in Ilam. The father-son team
saw several hundred patients, performed minor surgeries, and gave eye exams.
"A simple thing like providing corrective eyeglasses [makes] a huge difference to their quality of
life," wrote Neal.
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