Cheering on female fundraisers on International Women’s Day 2023
On International Women's Day, we're celebrating some inspiring female fundraisers.
March 8 is International Women’s Day. It is a chance to celebrate women everywhere.
We want to celebrate some inspiring women fundraising for Fight for Sight.
Mother and daughter team
Maliha and Rabia Abdul-Hakim are mother and daughter running the London Marathon as a double act and will raise money for Fight for Sight.
The two are fresh from running the Dubai marathon, where Rabia came 10th for her age group and Maliha came second in hers.
Both women have keratoconus. The condition affects the cornea, the clear round-shaped front surface of the eye. This becomes progressively thinner and weaker over time, eventually causing a cone-shaped protrusion to develop.
As Rabia’s sight has deteriorated, she’ll run 26.2 miles with a guide.
If you would like to volunteer to be a guide runner, cheerer, or participate in the London Marathon in the future, we would love to hear from you Email us at events@fightforsight.org.uk.
Their JustGiving pages are:
• http://www.justgiving.com/Maliha-Hakim
• https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/rabia-hakim1
The funds they raise will go towards funding research into eye conditions.
Please find out more about the research we’re funding.
Please read about our research successes.
Challenge £25k by 25
Megan Davies is an inspiring young woman who set herself a challenge to raise £25,000 by the time she is 25.
At age 16, Megan was diagnosed with retinal pigment damage.
The condition is rare, and there is currently no cure. She has planned multiple events in 2023, including a music festival in Peterborough, quizzes, and a rugby event, and is already thinking about more exciting events for 2024!
• Megan’s JustGiving page is Megan Davies is fundraising for Fight for Sight (justgiving.com)
Family affair: Tommy Salisbury Fund
Emma Salisbury will be running the London Landmarks half marathon in aid of Fight for Sight. The Salisbury family set up the Tommy Salisbury Choroideremia Fund to raise money for research into Choroideremia – an eye condition that affects their son, Tommy.
Emma will run with friends and colleagues in April at the London Landmarks Half Marathon.
You can donate to her via JustGiving: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/TeamTommy2023
Emma’s Mum, Dot, is another inspiring woman in the Salisbury family. She monitors the family fund’s impressive fundraising using her accounting skills and hosting fundraising events throughout the year.
£100,000 worth of fundraising for eye research
Tina and Rose Roberts are part of the Roberts family fund. The family is inspired to raise money because Rose has Stargardt disease.
Stargardt disease, or Stargardt macular dystrophy, is a genetic eye condition that causes progressive central sight loss. It is estimated to affect between one in 8,000 to 10,000 people in the UK.
It is a consequence of progressive damage to the macula – a small area in the centre of the retina, the specialised light-sensitive layer that lines the back of the eye.
The family fund has raised over £100,000 since they began in 2013 with support from family and friends, events at Rose’s school and dance school, quiz nights, cake sales, marathons and so much more.
The family’s JustGiving fundraising page is here: Roberts Family Fund - JustGiving
We’re in awe of these inspiring women and their fundraising efforts. The money they raise will help to fund future research grants. Fight for Sight funds ground-breaking research into sight loss that’s changing lives today and transforming them tomorrow.