TRANSITIONS OPTICAL JOINS RACE FOR THE CURE AS CORPORATE SPONSOR
Nearly 90 Florida-based Employees Race to Help Raise Funds for Breast Cancer Screening and Research in St. Petersburg Event

PINELLAS PARK, Fla., Oct. 10, 2002 – Transitions Optical, Inc.’s employees joined more than 1 million people around the world to fight breast cancer last month by participating in the Komen Race for the Cure&reg event in St. Petersburg, Fla., Sept. 21. In addition to walking and running in the 5K event, as a corporate sponsor Transitions had a booth at which consumers could have their eyewear screened for UV protection.

Through the efforts of Transitions employees, nearly $9,000 was raised for breast health education, breast cancer screening and treatment programs for the medically under-served.

“Breast cancer touches so many lives – from the patient to their family, friends and colleagues,” said Dave Cole, general manager of the Americas for Transitions Optical. “By participating in the race we were able to join a major initiative to bring attention to an important health issue.”

“We are also passionate about eye health,” Cole added. “At our booth visitors could learn about the importance of UV protection for the eyes and put their glasses through a UV screening test.” In the test, people placed their eyewear into an instrument that measured the percentage transmission of hazardous UV rays through the lenses, he explained.

“Throughout the day we encouraged booth visitors to be aware of the dangers of UV to the eyes and the need for everyday protection,” Cole said.

The more than 200 people who visited the booth also had a chance to win a free pair of Transitions&reg Lenses in a designer frame.


Mary Ann Brown, marketing coordinator at Transitions Optical, Inc., offers visitors to Transitions Optical’s booth at the Komen Race for the Cure event in St. Petersburg, Fla., a UV protection brochure. Visitors to the booth could also have their eyewear screened for 100 percent UV protection.