Falko Raises Over €25,000 for Orbis Ireland
London, 22 January 2026
Falko is proud to support Orbis Ireland, a charity committed to the treatment and prevention of avoidable blindness. Since 2022 Falko has raised €100,000 to support this vital cause.
Last November, a team of six from Falko joined Orbis Ireland on a trip to Ethiopia, alongside 72 others from Ireland, including representatives from AerCap, Avolon, Aircastle, AvAir, Orix Aviation and PwC Ireland to participate in the Great Ethiopian Run. Held in Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa, this 10km run is the largest road race in Africa attracting over 55,000 domestic and international runners and is celebrated as one of the most vibrant and colourful races in the world.
Following their time in Addis Ababa, the Orbis group travelled to Arba Minch in Southern Ethiopia to visit Orbis project sites. Here, the teams witnessed first-hand the significance of Orbis’ work in these communities including:
- Sight-saving trachoma surgery costing just €15 per procedure
- Refractive error screenings helping identify whether any of the pupils need glasses
- Water harvesting stations providing clean water to local schools
Reflecting on the experience, Des Egan, Falko’s Head of Technical commented: “Getting involved with Orbis Ireland was a decision driven by the incredible impact they are having in preventing and treating avoidable blindness globally. It’s a cause worthy of support, especially when you consider that 90% of vision loss cases are preventable or treatable.
The trip itself, starting with the Great Ethiopian Run in Addis Ababa, was an experience I’ll never forget. Participating in the 10km event alongside tens of thousands of others in one of the world’s most vibrant races was exhilarating. But for me, the real significance of the journey came when our Orbis group travelled to Arba Minch in Southern Ethiopia to visit the Orbis project sites.
Witnessing Orbis’ work first-hand was profoundly moving. We saw the life-changing impact of simple interventions, such as the sight-saving trachoma surgery, which costs just €15 per procedure and was completed within 20 minutes, and the refractive error screenings that identify those pupils needing glasses. The additional initiative around water harvesting stations which provide clean water to local schools also highlighted their holistic approach to community health. This experience gave me a deep appreciation for how Orbis mentors, trains, and empowers local teams to save sight in their own communities.
I’m incredibly proud to share that the Falko team, with the help of all our generous supporters, raised over €25,000 for this vital cause. Part of my journey allowed me to witness how and where these funds are deployed to support Orbis’s work, helping them create a world where no one lives with avoidable vision loss because of where they were born.
Finally, a massive thank you to Falko and every individual who contributed. Your generosity is what makes this life-changing work possible.”
About Orbis
Orbis Ireland is an international charity and leader in the global fight against avoidable blindness. With over 1 billion people living with vision loss and 90% of these cases are preventable or treatable. Orbis Ireland’s work focuses on tackling the leading causes of avoidable blindness – trachoma, cataract and refractive error – in a region of over 4.5 million people in Southern Ethiopia. Using its network of partners, the charity mentors, trains and empowers local teams to save sight in their communities.
To learn more about the incredible work of Orbis Ireland visit https://irl.orbis.org/en
Contact
Falko Investor Relations
Phone +44 (0) 1707 252025