Optician Tom raises a run-derful amount of money for sight loss charity
OPTICIAN Tom Price took on a marathon challenge in aid of a charity providing much-needed support for some of his customers at Specsavers Ashbourne.
An optometrist at the Victoria Square store, Tom competed in the Ashbourne Half Marathon, running 13 miles through the hills of the Peak District in a time of two hours flat.
So far he has raised more than £400 for Sight Support Derbyshire, a charity that provides support to adults and children dealing with sight loss. It provides practical support, rehabilitation and social activities for patients.
“For many of my customers, spectacles are not a complete solution to their sight loss and so require specialist help and advice,” says Tom.
“We’ve had a collection tin for Sight Support in the store for many years and regularly recommend them to our patients with sight loss.
“I began running with the ‘Couch to 5k’ programme about two years ago simply as a way to keep fit, and then decided to challenge myself by completing my first half marathon in Ibiza last year.
“I then ran my first full marathon in Leeds this May,” he adds. “The Ashbourne Half was a new challenge for me because of the big changes in elevation and inclement weather!”
As an optometrist, it’s easy to see why Tom has chosen Sight Support to fund raise for. He said: “Here at Specsavers, we work with people affected by sight loss daily so I am aware of how it can affect people’s lives and the benefit of the help we can offer to patients.
“I really enjoyed the challenge and am delighted to have raised such a great sum for the charity.
“It would be fantastic if we could boost that amount even more because Sight Support is such a worthwhile charity to help out.”
Tom is still taking donations on his fundraising page – www.justgiving.com/ page/sight-support-ashbourne-half1719566008403?utm_ medium=fundraising.