Local rugby club Ealing Trailfinders is backing a new campaign from sight loss charity Fight for Sight, which is combining fashion, sustainability and fundraising in Ealing Broadway.
Fight for Sight, which funds research into vision loss, operates 14 charity shops across London including its Ealing branch which opened earlier this year.
Its latest initiative, the “Ealing Fashion Drop”, was sparked by a massive donation of eight tonnes of brand new clothing from an online retailer. Instead of being sent to landfill, the stock is now on sale in Ealing with the aim of it all being sold within a month.
To support the inititive, several players from Trailfinders Women visited the shop this week, where sustainable stylist Sarah Sole of Sourced Studio helped them select outfits from the donated rails. The players then modelled the clothes around well-known spots in Ealing Broadway.
Ben Ward, managing director of Ealing Trailfinders, said: “As a club, we believe our responsibilities within the community go far beyond the pitch. We want to lift up our community, and that means standing alongside the organisations that are making a real difference to people’s lives. Fight for Sight’s work is a huge contributor to supporting those living with sight loss, and we’re proud to play our part in raising awareness and backing their campaign.”
Phil Beavan, Fight for Sight’s retail director, said the players’ presence had transformed the atmosphere: “It was such a joy to have the players come down … they’re big-hearted members of our community. And of course, they all looked fabulous.”
Trailfinders fly-half Isla Norman-Bell said: “The community always shows up for us, and it’s important for us as a club to back the people and causes around us. Helping Fight for Sight raise awareness is a small way we can contribute to work that matters and being involved is something that feels meaningful to us.”
The Fashion Drop runs until 21 September at the Fight for Sight shop, 2 The Broadway, Ealing W5.