Member Article

Rally for running Rob! Vision Express fundraiser takes on London Marathon in support of child eye cancer charity

As elite athletes and enthusiastic joggers alike gear up for this year’s London Marathon, Vision Express is backing one of its own as he takes on the grueling challenge in support of charity partner, the Childhood Eye Cancer Trust (CHECT).

Hoping to beat his personal best, senior marketing manager and seasoned runner, Rob Carmichael is also aiming to raise awareness and vital funds for CHECT – a charity dedicated to helping families battling the rare and aggressive eye cancer, retinoblastoma (Rb), which affects babies and children under five.

“I’ve seen firsthand the incredible work that CHECT does, supporting survivors of Rb,” Rob comments. “It’s an incredibly dedicated and hardworking charity, which provides an essential platform for children and families affected by this disease. I’ve been lucky enough to meet some of the CHECT team over the years and their commitment to the cause is inspiring to say the least.”

With just over a month to go, Rob is making the final preparations in his training. He adds: “Running has always been a passion of mine from a very early age. The London Marathon is one of the most iconic races in the world and an event that is close to my heart. It was the first marathon my dad completed, and he has since gone on to run over 100 marathons. He is one of my heroes and it’s always been my aim to follow in his footsteps. This will be my third marathon and I’m hoping to complete it in under three hours.”

Vision Express works with CHECT to raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of Rb and the importance of regular eye tests. CHECT chief executive, Patrick Tonks comments: “The support from Rob and the Vision Express team is a lifeline to our charity. Rb currently has a 98% survival rate, however, the treatment process can be very challenging – about half of the children diagnosed need an eye removed to stop the cancer from spreading, which has long term implications for them and their families.

“It means so much that people like Rob are willing to undertake such challenges like the London Marathon to fundraise for CHECT. On behalf of our team, we’d like to say a huge thank you – and good luck!”

Vision Express first joined forces with CHECT in 2010. Over eight years, the national optical retailer has embarked on fundraising challenges including an endurance cycling event called Ride4Sight, skydives, marathons, raffles and an annual Christmas quiz, raising a much-needed £600,000 in support of the charity.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Vision Express .