From geek to chic with Gok - specs wearers celebrate first National Glasses Day

19/09/2008

GOK WAN, the specs-wearing style guru, is spearheading Britain’s first National Glasses Day on 19 September 2008.

The star of C4’s How to Look Good Naked, whose personal specs appeal has become his trademark, is working alongside Specsavers and anti-bullying charity Kidscape, to raise awareness of the issue of childhood bullying.

Gok Wan, 33, says: ‘Thousands of children are bullied every year because of the way they look, as I was myself, and I know only too well the pain and distress that this can cause. Self-confidence is precious and can be destroyed at such an early age with the effects of bullying festering and perpetuating into adulthood.

‘Kids can be very cruel without even realising it, attacking their schoolmates for everything from wearing glasses through to their weight, what they wear and where they live. As a long-term glasses wearer I want to show kids that
wearing specs is cool and bring the issue of bullying to the fore.

‘Specs are no longer just an optical necessity but a fashion accessory, a fact that has in recent years been reinforced by high profile celebrities, such as Johnny Depp and Kylie Minogue, who have worn their specs loud and proud.’

Specsavers founder Dame Mary Perkins, says: ‘National Glasses Day is an ideal opportunity for us to change perceptions about wearing glasses while raising much needed awareness of the problem of bullying in schools. Through working with such an iconic specs-wearer as Gok Wan, we hope that we can encourage children and other glasses wearers to wear their specs with pride.’

Kidscape is the first national charity dedicated to preventing bullying and child abuse and is committed to keeping children safe from harm. In the last year alone, more than two million children and parents contacted Kidscape about bullying and child safety - many of those children have been suicidal.

In April 2008 Gok Wan launched Specsavers 12th annual nationwide search for the Spectacle Wearer of the Year (SWOTY). Specsavers has donated £1 for every eligible entry to Kidscape to help the charity continue with their Zap
workshops, which help children who have been affected by bullying cope and feel more confident about themselves.

-Ends-

Issued by Beattie Communications on behalf of Specsavers Opticians www.specsavers.co.uk

For further press information, case studies, interviews or product
photography, please contact:

Kirsty McKinnon 020 7053 6003/07973 627150

Amanda Fry 020 7053 6005/07810 508367

Specsavers notes to editors

Specsavers was founded by Doug and Dame Mary Perkins in 1984 and is now the largest privately owned opticians in the world

The couple still run the company, along with their three children. Their eldest son John is joint managing director

Specsavers has more than 1060 stores throughout the UK, Ireland, the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Spain and Australia

Annual turnover for the Specsavers Group is forecast to reach a record £1.05 billion for the financial year 2008/9

The group plans to continue its successful international expansion by opening stores in New Zealand

Specsavers optical stores and hearing centres are owned and run by joint venture or franchise partners.

Specsavers employs more than 17,000 staff

Specsavers was voted Britain’s most trusted brand of opticians for th

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From geek to chic with Gok - specs wearers celebrate first National Glasses Day

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