Tim’s own experience inspired him to take on this challenge alongside his wife Lynda to raise vital funds for Orbis.
On 23rd November, 65-year-old Tim and 71-year-old Lynda Smith, from Chapel Brampton, Northamptonshire, laced up their running shoes to take on the Great Ethiopian Run – 3,700 miles from home – driven by Tim’s personal experience with eye conditions. Tim, Managing Director of a green energy company, and his wife Lynda, embraced Africa’s biggest road race to raise funds for Orbis, a charity dedicated to preventing avoidable blindness worldwide, as part of a wider team effort with Orbis’s long-term corporate partner and Ambassador bespoke eyewear creator Tom Davies.
In the lead-up to the event, the couple trained hard, clocking regular walks around their local area. Following all their hard work and determination, the couple completed the challenging 10-kilometre road race through the bustling streets of the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa – running shoulder to shoulder with 50,000 participants in the 23°C heat. Together, they raised just over £10,000 for Orbis through generous donations from friends and family.
Tim said: “I’ve had cataracts in both of my eyes, and I’ve had glaucoma for twenty years. I’ve got wet macular degeneration, and dry degeneration. I’m privileged to have access to the NHS or private care to get treatment. I have a feeling of empathy for people who are going to lose their eyesight or have already lost their eyesight, and I think we take for granted how easy our access to healthcare is in the UK.”
“I’m conscious that eventually I’m going to lose my eyesight – but not for another twenty years. That’s what connected with me. I’ve got my problems, but I’ve got people looking after me. They’re [my doctors] are slowing down the progression of the things I’ve got, and I’m going to lead a full and long life with great eyesight because of that. It’s never cost me any money, I’ve never had to think about it, and it’s all just happening around me.”
Mandy Pope, Head of Major Gifts at Orbis UK, said: “We are so grateful to supporters like Tim and Lynda who take on incredible challenges like the Great Ethiopian Run – a tough race in hot, high-altitude conditions – to help us tackle avoidable blindness. The funds raised through their hard work and determination will help provide life-changing eye care in Ethiopia, giving children and adults the chance of a brighter future full of possibilities.”
Orbis in Ethiopia
In Ethiopia, over 8.8 million people live with some form of vision loss, and sadly, around 780,000 people are completely blind. One of the biggest challenges is the shortage of trained eye care professionals who can prevent and treat sight problems. Ethiopia also has the highest number of people at risk of a serious eye infection that can cause blindness if left untreated – impacting independence, educations and livelihoods.
Orbis has been working in Ethiopia since 1998, training local eye care teams, performing sight-saving surgeries, and providing antibiotics to fight these infections. In September, Orbis and its partners reached a major milestone: meeting the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) target for eliminating the blinding stage of this disease in Sheka Zone. This marks the second zone in Ethiopia to achieve this goal – a huge step forward in the fight against avoidable blindness.
Want to take on a challenge like Tim and Lynda? Whether it’s a marathon, a tough road race, or your own fundraising idea, you can help Orbis fight avoidable blindness worldwide. Get involved today by visiting: https://gbr.orbis.org/en/events
About Orbis
Orbis is a leading global charity that is a pioneer in the prevention and treatment of avoidable blindness for over four decades. Orbis transforms lives by delivering the skills, resources and knowledge needed to deliver accessible quality eye care. Working in collaboration with local partners, including hospitals, universities, government agencies and ministries of health, Orbis provides hands-on training, strengthens healthcare infrastructure and advocates for the prioritisation of eye health on public health agendas. Orbis operates the world’s only fully accredited Flying Eye Hospital, an ophthalmic teaching hospital on board an MD-10 aircraft, and an award-winning telemedicine platform, Cybersight. www.orbis.org.uk
Media Contacts
Orbis UK
Rose Comber
Pressoffice@orbis.org.uk
