A local opticians is lending its support to an event aimed at funding clinical research and renal facilities for kidney patients across Wales.

Specsavers in Pembroke Dock is sponsoring the Kidney Wales Foundation's Walk for Life, which is built on a series of organised walks across Wales on Sunday, March 28, planned by local people and attended by thousands.

Details of local walks will be announced shortly when sponsorship packs will be available from Specsavers stores.

It is the second year running that Specsavers has agreed to be the principal sponsor of Walk for Life and, with the help of the Dimond Street store, Kidney Wales hopes to go one better this year and hit its target to raise more than £100,000 from the event.

S4C presenters Alex Jones and Sarra Elgan have already pledged their support to the event and will act as ambassadors for this year's walks.

Kidney Wales aims to raise money to help meet the funding gap between the clinical need and the resources the government can provide. Its objective is to promote strategies and services to prevent and treat kidney disease, and to help deliver better quality and quantity of life for patients, families and carers.

Kidney Wales has already helped provide dialysis units and finance and promote positions for consultant nephrologists, transplant co-ordinators, nurse specialists, social workers and psychologists across the whole of Wales.

Alongside the health service it also recognises the growing demand for renal services.

Kidney Wales is also leading the Donate Wales campaign to encourage more people to join the Organ Donor Register. The Walk for Life will also be used to promote this message.

Gary Owen, director at Specsavers in Pembroke Dock, said: "We are proud to once again be sponsoring the Walk for Life. Last year, the sponsorship resonated strongly with a lot of our staff and customers, so we did not have any hesitation supporting the event again this year.

"Kidney disease is often caused by hypertension and diabetes, which is also responsible for many complications in the eye, so the work of the Kidney Wales Foundation campaign that is relevant to many of our customers.

"We will be encouraging our customers and staff to take part in a walk and we hope that by raising awareness of the event, we can raise enough funds to help transform the lives of those with kidney disease."

Roy J. Thomas, of the Kidney Wales Foundation, added: "We're delighted that Specsavers has once again pledged its support to Walk for Life. It is so important that we raise awareness and vital funds to help children who are on dialysis, and the support of Specsavers will go a long way to helping us do that."

For more information about the Walk for Life or to organise a walk visit http://www.kidneywales.com">www.kidneywales.com or contact 029 2034 3940.