DONATE

Sightsavers Ireland launches fundraising expedition to the Arctic

July 2022
The sun rises on the horizon over a snowy expanse. On the left, there are bare trees and a river with floating ice chunks.
A small group will travel from Tromsø to watch the first sunrise of the new year.

Winter in the Arctic means months of darkness. But each January, the first sunrise of the year is a breathtaking event that heralds the start of spring.

Now Sightsavers Ireland’s First Light for Sight sunrise expedition is giving you the chance to experience this once-in-a-lifetime spectacle.

In 2023, Sightsavers Ireland is celebrating 20 years of protecting and restoring sight in the countries where we work. To mark the anniversary, we’re running a series of special initiatives to commemorate the incredible impact our supporters have helped us make.

We’re inviting a small group of explorers to join us on an expedition to the Arctic in January, to celebrate all the sunrises made possible by sight-saving operations. We’ve teamed up with our partner Adventure.ie for this unique trip, which will see you challenging yourself to survive in extreme Arctic conditions, travelling across snow and ice by skis or snowshoes to reach a remote log cabin and possibly even seeing the Northern Lights.

Want to join us on this adventure? You can attend our online briefing session on 27 July, which will be organised by the Sightsavers Ireland team and Adventure.ie. You’ll be able to find out more about the itinerary, fundraising target and the support available to help you meet your goal. To register your interest in joining the briefing, contact Lauren or Ciara for more information by emailing [email protected] or calling 01 6637666.

A long line of people using skis trek across a frozen landscape. In the background, the sun is setting over some fir trees.

The First Light for Sight sunrise challenge

The expedition will teach supporters the survival skills they need to reach the Arctic Circle.

About the challenge

Read all our latest news stories

News from Sightsavers
In an operating theatre, a surgeon and a nurse prepare baby Ebenezeri for her cataract operation. The medical staff are wearing green scrubs and surgical masks.

2024: Our year in pictures

These photos capture some highlights from our work in 2024. From disease treatment programmes to disability inclusion, we’ve seen lives transformed, attitudes changed and people supported to access their rights.

January 2025
12-year-old Fiza smiles after receiving glasses through an eye test at her school.

Sightsavers partners with AI tech company to improve rural eye care

OptikosPrime’s innovative app will help people living in lower income countries to access eye care by making it possible to have their eyes tested via smartphone.

January 2025
President Jimmy Carter smiles, with the US flag behind him.

Sightsavers pays tribute to President Jimmy Carter

The 39th president of the United States died on 29 December, aged 100. Sightsavers worked with President Carter and The Carter Center for many years to fight neglected tropical diseases.

January 2025