Every year, I push myself to walk 25km in aid of LRBT.

This cause is deeply personal to me because I have seen first-hand how vulnerable and dependent a person can become when their eyesight begins to fail.

I watched my mother struggle with doctor’s appointments, increasingly thick spectacles and cataract operations. She belonged to a generation that loved to read, and losing her sight gradually took away something she treasured.

Then came the seemingly small things that slowly made everyday life hazardous. She couldn’t always judge distances. She didn’t see the last step. She fell frequently. Bit by bit, poor eyesight made her more dependent on others and, painfully, began to take away her sense of dignity and independence.

Until one fateful day, she fell in her courtyard and fractured her pelvis. The pain was excruciating. At her age, there was little that could be done other than manage the pain with medication. Those medicines took a heavy toll on her already frail body.

My poor mother ended up in hospital with pneumonia. She never recovered and eventually succumbed to what is often called the “old person’s friend” — pneumonia, a silent and devastating killer.

Her journey taught me that sight is about so much more than simply being able to see. It is about independence, dignity, confidence and safety.

That is why, every year, I walk 25km for LRBT. Because restoring someone’s sight can mean giving them back so much more than vision — it can mean giving them back their life.

Please support me in this year’s walk. Every contribution, however small, can help someone see a brighter and more independent future.

25km is a long way to walk, but losing your sight can make every step of every day feel even longer.

Thank you for supporting this cause that means so much to me.

Both Kekshan and her father Syed suffered with visual impairment and required cornea transplant surgery. With no public national health service 'free at the point of need', Syed could not afford the fees charged by private hospitals either.

LRBT was the vital health safety net, providing FREE eye surgery and treatment to restore their sight.

Kekshan and her father were assessed and joined a waiting list for cornea transplantation. When the organs became available, their surgery was arranged, all the pre-operative tests were carried out free of cost.

After surgery, both made a steady recovery with support on post-operative care, free medication and regular check ups.

Kekshan is back at school and her father is working again providing for his family.

They are profoundly grateful to the donors at LRBT for giving them the gift of sight.