MEDIA INVITE
For immediate release
What: Students step into virtual ageing photo booth to see how they might look when they reach 70 if they continue to smoke
When: Tuesday, 19 October 2010, between 10am and 4pm
Where: City College Plymouth (centre of the college), Kings Road
Virtual ageing booth
As part of the Royal National Institute of Blind People's (RNIB) Future Vision tour, students from City College Plymouth will next week enter a virtual ageing booth to see how they could look when older and learn how to reduce the risk of becoming blind later in life.
The UK wide tour - landing in Plymouth between October 18 and 22 - aims to show students how their lifestyle can affect their vision. It hopes to encourage them to look after their eyes by highlighting how they can prevent serious eye conditions from developing for instance by not smoking.
Simulation
The virtual ageing photo booth simulates how students might look when they reach 70 based on whether they smoke or not. On leaving the booth, students are given a 'before' and 'after' photograph of themselves, along with eye health information explaining how to avoid risk factors linked to eye disease.
RNIB's research has found that almost 2 million people are living with sight loss in the UK - but more than 50 per cent sight loss can be avoided. If detected sufficiently early many eye conditions can be treated or managed. Not smoking and having regular eye tests are particularly effective ways of minimising the risk of developing serious sight disease when older.
Lifestyle choices
Barbara McLaughlan, RNIB's Eye Health Campaigns Manager, said: "Our focus is on younger people because we want to show them, in a very tangible way, how their lifestyle choices may affect their risk of developing eye disease in later life. RNIB's Future Vision tour shows our commitment to making avoidable sight loss a thing of the past."
Many people are unaware of the link between smoking and sight loss despite it being as strong as the link between smoking and lung cancer. A survey conducted by RNIB showed that in the UK, 73 per cent of smokers aged 18-24 would consider stopping smoking permanently or reducing smoking to avoid blindness in later life.
Future Vision tour
The Future Vision tour comes to Plymouth following discussions into effective ways of reducing smoking. The college wants to help its students to better understand the risks attached to their eye health due to smoking.
John Pakulski, Students Services Officer at City College Plymouth, said: "The health and welfare of our students is at the forefront of all learning experiences we provide at the college, which is why we are happy to support the Future Vision campaign. This is an excellent opportunity for students and staff to discover how smoking can affect their sight in the long run and to learn about the importance of eye tests."
NHS Plymouth 'Stop Smoking' team will also be on hand giving out information to students.
The booth was designed by Hartnell Creative Communication Ltd and will be visiting its final location at City Norwich College on Friday 5 November 2010.
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
The media are invited to have a go in the pod. To arrange this please contact Emma Mercer, RNIB Media Relations Officer, on 020 7391 2085 or email emma.mercer@rnib.org.uk. Out of hours mobile 07968 482812.
For college press enquiries contact Katie Easter on 01752 305393/07717205180 or Catherine Sims on 01752 305393/07771 870781.
Students using the booth and a spokesperson from RNIB and the college will be available for further comment on the day.
If you are unable to attend, photos can be sent out following the event on request.
Everyday around 100 people in the UK start to lose their sight. There are almost 2 million people in the UK with sight problems. RNIB is the leading charity working in the UK offering practical support, advice and information for anyone with sight difficulties. If you, or someone you know, has a sight problem RNIB can help. Call the RNIB Helpline on 0303 123 9999 or visit www.rnib.org.uk
Please note the correct name and spelling for the College is City College Plymouth. Please do not abbreviate to City College or CCP, or add a comma after the word College.