The reason I am doing it is to raise funds for the BDFA. My involvement with this small but important charity is because my friend, Pauline, pictured with me above, had two children Joanna and James, who were both born with Juvenile Batten Disease (CLN3) - a devastating, degenerative, life-limiting disease.

Pauline lost Joanna in April 2008 (aged 23) and James in July 2016 (aged 26).

Most forms of Batten disease begin during childhood and children with the disease often appear healthy and develop normally before they begin to show symptoms. One of the first symptoms is vision loss. As you know I have been involved with optics for many years. Working for the Association of British Dispensing Opticians for 27 years and now being a Liveryman of The Worshipful Company of Spectacle Makers', a City Livery Company, founded by Royal Charter in 1629. Their purpose is to support the prevention and treatment of vision impairment and has remained the same for almost four centuries. 

Pauline and her husband Jim are part of a group who set up the BDFA over 20 years ago to support families - the charity was needed then and even more now. Families with children and young people with the now 13 variants of this disease now identified, continue to have to fight for all the help they need, be it medical, practical or at schools.

So, please donate what you can - anything you give will be very much appreciated!

Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.