Cara Kilbey backs new Shade Aid campaign by donating her designer sunnies

Cara Kilbey backs new Shade Aid campaign by donating her designer sunnies

The TOWIE star, 24, is getting behind Shade Aid which aims to fight preventable blindness by recycling and re-gifting unwanted sunglasses.

The best pairs will be given out to people in Africa, while sub-standard pairs will be recycled to raise money for Vision Aid Overseas and Build Africa’s preventable blindness projects.

The TV star is often seen sporting dark glasses — and her recent trip to Marbella with her Essex co-stars was no exception.

Cara said: “Your sunglasses might be replaceable, but your eyes aren’t. Now you can help people in the world’s sunniest — but poorest — countries protect their eyes.”

Sunglasses cost as much as a YEAR’S salary in developing countries such as Kenya, Uganda, Zambia and Malawi, but in the UK 68 per cent of us ditch our shades for a more up-to-date style every year.

Cara added, “Shade Aid is a brilliant way for people to put their unwanted sunglasses to good use and it’s so easy to get involved.”

Lucy Jenkins from Vision Aid Overseas says “Ocular sun damage is a serious health issue in Africa.

“In fact, by the time the average child is 18, they will have absorbed 80 per cent of their lifetime exposure to the sun’s harmful UV rays.

“Extended UV exposure has been linked to cataracts and macular degeneration as well as other serious eye disorders which can cause loss of vision.”

Find out more about Shade Aid here.