Meet our fundraising heroes

We’re lucky to have some incredible people who fundraise for us. From a dedicated dentist to a young swimming sensation, our fantastic fundraisers will inspire you to get involved.

Kalpesh and his friends completed a charity pub run, raising £2,500 for us.

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“An experience I’ll never forget!”

Paul and his team gather next to their yellow Sightsavers-branded tuk-tuk, wearing yellow Sightsavers t-shirts. They're standing next to a sign saying 'Domaine Relais de Marrakech'.

In May 2023, Paul Morrissey, his wife Debbie and his friends Bobby and Andrew jumped in a Sightsavers-branded tuk-tuk to travel more than 2,000 miles from Malvern in Worcestershire to Marrakesh. The journey took two weeks, and they managed to raise £10,356.

Paul said: “We took the ferry from Portsmouth to Santander and overland to Gibraltar, before another ferry to Morocco and overland to Marrakesh. Without doubt, it was an experience I’ll never forget!”

“My sponsors kept me going”

Hiker Geoff Woodward and his friend Steve embarked on a 15-day trek to Everest base camp to raise money for Sightsavers. They hiked with friends, family members, and expert guides for five to eight hours a day in sub-zero temperatures, raising £2,030 to help others.

He said: “This was one hell of a physical challenge for me, being a previously inactive pensioner. And I did suffer from altitude sickness. But my sponsors kept me going.”

“I jumped out of a plane!”

In September 2023, Sightsavers supporter Peter White dived from the skies in his own charity sky fall for Sightsavers. After takeoff, he soared 13,000 metres above Beccles Airfield in Suffolk before he jumped out of the plane to complete the skydive.

With the help of his instructor, Peter glided down to earth and made the perfect landing, raising £657 for Sightsavers in the process.

“I swam every day for 31 days!”

Six-year-old Bertie stands on a beach wrapped in a towel and wearing goggles on his forehead, while smiling broadly.

In August 2020, six-year-old Bertie Reynolds decided to follow in his mum’s footsteps to fundraise for Sightsavers. He challenged himself to swim in the sea at home in Scotland – without a wetsuit – every day for a month.

He said: “I had LOTS of cold and rainy days, but I still managed to do proper strokes every time. On my last swim, my friends came to swim with me and cheer me on. I raised £462 for Sightsavers and am going to have a rest from swimming now!”

Sightsavers ambassador Ben Quilter during a training run.

“Keep going if you’re struggling!”

World champion and Paralympic bronze medal-winning judoka Ben Quilter ran the London Marathon for Sightsavers in 2018, and has continued to support us as an ambassador.

His marathon training tips? “Convince yourself that it’s not cold and raining! Embrace the fact that you’re tough and committed, and just get on with it. No excuses!”

The runners relax in the pub after their run.

“We plan to do it again every year”

A group of friends from north London completed a charity pub run, raising £2,500 for Sightsavers. The group ran from Finchley Central to Camden, visiting five pubs en route.

Organiser Kalpesh Patel says: “We had so much fun and raised money for a great charity. As for the 12 of us? Take a bow, gentlemen: you’re all champions!”

“I’m glad it was tough – when we finished, I felt really proud”

A young woman, Lily, stares up at a sign saying 'Welcome to PLymouth' while wearing a cap and large rucksack.

After seeing a Sightsavers advert, Lily Spry challenged herself to walk from Lands End to Plymouth in 10 days to fundraise for us. She was joined by her sister Frances and springer spaniel Billie as the team camped along the 154-mile route.

She said: “People we met were really supportive, and we got donations just by talking to people. The coast path is incredibly hilly! But I’m glad it was tough, as the feeling when we finished was so much better – I was really proud.”

“I had some amazing support”

Dentist Ben Molyneux was due to take part in the London Marathon in 2020 but, like thousands of fellow runners, was unable to race when the event was postponed due to COVID-19. Instead of relaxing, Ben decided to take on a rowathon.

He said: “I completed the distance on a rowing machine in my garage and had an online stream for people to give encouragement. It was tough, but I had amazing support, completing it in two hours and 49 minutes.”

“Sightsavers felt like a great match”

Avid gamer Andrew Wissler, from Pittsburgh in the US, raised $12,000 for us by completing ‘The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time’ blindfolded. He says: “My friend Jordan is blind, and his goal was to beat ‘Zelda’. I wrote instructions for him based on sound effects, and a screenreader read them.

It took us a few years, but he finally did it, so I wanted to try it myself. I’m so lucky to have a community on Twitch that donated so much to Sightsavers.”

Group of people wearing Sightsavers yellow t-shirts.

Please do get in touch with any queries. We’d love to hear from you!

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For answers to some of the most common queries, see our frequently asked questions.

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