350 people take part in charity blind walk organised by Newton-le-Willows school

Walkers on the route from Aysgarth Falls to Aysgarth School.

More than 350 people put their best foot forward with a blind walk to raise money for the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB), after being inspired by a ten-year-old boy with vision impairment.

The 16-mile walk in the Yorkshire Dales, which people were invited to try blindfolded for a section, has raised £36,000 so far.

It was organised by Aysgarth School in an effort to raise money for the leading sight loss charity, which supports its form six pupil, Archie Hare.

Archie was diagnosed with a degenerative eye disease, a severe retinal dystrophy, when he was just 20 months old. It meant that his eyesight steadily deteriorated and, after six years, disappeared completely.

Earlier this year, Archie addressed the school in assembly and explained about the importance of the work that RNIB carries out and how the charity supports him.

Speaking after the walk, he said: “It’s amazing that my school wanted to raise money for RNIB with this walk.

“I walked the whole 16 miles myself and nearly everyone else got to do half a mile blindfolded to see and feel things my way. It was loads of fun and I think now more people understand what it is like to be blind.”

The walk took place over 16 miles from Aysgarth, where the school was founded, to Newton-le-Willows, the current site of Aysgarth School.

Archie approaching the 12 mile refreshment stop.

During the walk, the school also held a silent auction amongst walkers – with the prize of a weekend trip for two to Chalet d’Amo in Morzine, France, with a free lesson from Archie’s adaptive skiing instructor, Nigel Morley.

The school chose RNIB as its chosen charity for the event, which happens every five years, for the support it provides Archie, including reading books and tactile images and adapted items for school work.

The money was given to RNIB at a cheque presentation celebration at the School. Alex Byers, Area Fundraising Manager for RNIB in Yorkshire and the Humber, said: “We were thrilled that Archie and Aysgarth School were so keen to support us with this walk, and are amazed by the generosity of the community that have raised this huge sum.

“All of the money from this event will go towards RNIB’s work with blind and partially sighted children and young people, locally and across the UK – so that we can help even more children like Archie reach their full potential.”

RNIB is one of the UK’s leading sight loss charities which provides practical and emotional support to blind and partially sighted people throughout the UK. For more information, visit www.rnib.org.uk.

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