Released on: October 14, 2008, 8:01 am

Press Release Author: Optical Express

Industry: Healthcare

Press Release Summary: "I now have perfect vision and I am about to embark on my
biggest charity challenge yet and it's all thanks to Optical Express."

Press Release Body: Mother of two, Yasmeen Ali (35) is packing her walking boots and
traveling to Tanzania on Friday (17th Oct 2008) to complete a 9-day charity trek
over the world's tallest free-standing mountain, Kilimanjaro - thanks to Optical
Express.

Yasmeen decided to embark on this charity challenge after the successful completion
of her Lasik (laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis) eye surgery with Optical
Express in June this year. Inspired by her determination, Optical Express has
provided Yasmeen with the GBP2000 sponsorship money she needs in order to undertake
this challenge.

Yasmeen, who is the managing director of a health & safety consultancy in Scotland,
is very active in the fundraising community. Having already completed the Inverness
half and Edinburgh marathons earlier this year in aid of Kidney Research UK, Yasmeen
will now embark on her biggest challenge to date, Kilimanjaro.

Before Yasmeen signed up to the 9 day expedition she dropped into her local Optical
Express Clinic. "I didn't want to be fumbling around with glasses or contact lenses
while trying to trek over Kilimanjaro," Yasmeen explained, "So I decided to take the
plunge and have Lasik (laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis) eye surgery. The
Aberdeen staff at Optical Express were fantastic and really helpful throughout the
whole process."

Shortly after her Lasik (laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis) treatment in June,
Yasmeen applied for the Kilimanjaro challenge in order to continue raising money for
her charity of choice, Kidney Research UK. "I'd left it quite late to apply," said
Yasmeen, "there were only a few places left on the expedition and I still needed to
raise an initial GBP3000 in sponsorship money."

Having raised GBP1K by herself in a week, Yasmeen still had to raise GBP2K in two weeks,
or she would not have enough funds to participate in the charity trek.

"During my post treatment check-up, I told Fiona, the Laser eye treatment
consultant, about my goal to raise funds to climb Kilimanjaro for charity," Yasmeen
explained, "I was absolutely delighted when Optical Express offered to sponsor me
for the remaining GBP2K."

"I now have perfect vision and I am about to embark on my biggest charity challenge
yet and it's all thanks to Optical Express."

Liz McGuinness from Kidney Research UK said, "If anyone could raise that much
sponsorship money in such a small amount of time, it's Yasmeen. Her fund raising
activities for Kidney Research UK over the last few years have been relentless. She
is an inspiration to us all."

The single mother of two will be flying out to Tanzania this Friday (17th Oct 08) to
begin the expedition.


ENDS

Issued on behalf of Optical Express by LLLink at Forth House, 5 Johns Place, EH6 7EL.
Contact Emma Sykes on (0131) 561 8416 or emma@lllink.co.uk



Notes to Editor:

Optical Express is the only UK organisation to provide its customers with the
complete eye care solution, from spectacles and contact lenses to laser vision
correction and intraocular lens treatment.

With 54 laser treatment centres and over 100 laser consultation centres, Optical
Express is Europe's number one laser eye surgery and vision correction provider.

Yasmeen Ali, who had laser eye surgery in June 2008, began raising money for Kidney
Research UK when her best friend went onto kidney dialysis four years ago. Initially
Yasmeen was tested to give up her kidney but unfortunately she was not a good match.


For more information on Optical Express Laser Eye Surgery visit:
http://uk.opticalexpress.com/laser-eye-surgery.html

For a downloadable booklet about the Kidney Research UK Kilimanjaro Trek visit:
http://kidneyresearchuk.org/images/pdfs2/events/kilimanjaroinforsheet.pdf

For more information about Kidney Research UK visit:
http://www.kidneyresearchuk.org/



Web Site: http://uk.opticalexpress.com/

Contact Details: Issued on behalf of Optical Express by LLLink at Forth House, 5
Johns Place, EH6 7EL.
Contact Emma Sykes on (0131) 561 8416 or emma@lllink.co.uk