The Fabulous Faculty, Marvellous Mentors and Super Steppers ran, walked, rowed and hiked to make their Steps Count for SeeAbility throughout October. The team consisting of over 40 fundraisers from Johnson & Johnson recorded over 8.7 million steps to raise an incredible £8,622.

With the mission of raising awareness of the importance of good eye health, the team spent the past month undertaking several brave challenges from climbing Ben Lomond and completing Yorkshire’s Three Peaks, to running 100km. The sponsored activities will support SeeAbility to provide eye care and vision rehabilitation support for people with learning disabilities, autism and sight loss. 

Johnson & Johnson’s Professional Education & Development Manager Sheetal Patel shared:

“The impact SeeAbility makes by providing access to eyecare for those with learning disabilities or autism, is profound. It makes a significant difference in how confidently these individuals live their lives. Supporting a charity like SeeAbility is a commitment we make as individuals to recognise that provision and access to eyecare should be made available to all.”

Over the years, Johnson & Johnson and SeeAbility have worked together to create new pathways to improve sight testing for people with learning disabilities. This year’s virtual fundraising challenge has brought together the STEP team - all aspiring eye care practitioners alongside their mentors and faculty members. Annabel, who is an optometrist by profession, walked 10,000 steps every day including a hike to Slieve Donard, the highest mountain in Northern Ireland said:

“I think it’s so important for everyone, no matter their circumstances to be empowered and to achieve things they wouldn’t have thought possible! Not only are people with learning disabilities more likely to have serious eye problems, but they are less likely to get the eye care they need - so it is fabulous that I can support them outside of the test room.”

Similarly, Kiran Bola who completed a 10km run shared:

“I have seen first-hand how SeeAbility push for equality within eye-care and how the charity goes the extra mile in supporting individuals to gain employment and to break the barriers that exist for people with disabilities. Attaining access to eye-care should not be a privilege, and SeeAbility are leading the way to ensure all members of community are seen and not forgotten. I am really happy to be supporting such a great charity alongside my J&J colleagues. It has been a great motivation seeing everyone come together to support and raise money for a cause which champions inclusion and supporting individuals with learning difficulties, sight loss and complex needs to achieve their life goals.”