Hey my name is Mike, and I am going to be walking the full length of the Te Araroa to raise awareness and money for Nystagmus.
I myself have Congenital Nystagmus (CN). "And what is congenital nystagmus!?" I hear you ask…well….
Congenital = Present from birth
Nystagmus = Taking from straight from the Nystagmus Network's homepage “Nystagmus is a complex visual impairment, characterised by involuntary eye movements, affecting focus and depth perception. (There is currently no cure).”
Which is what we want to change……
And the other big question, what is the Te Araroa?
"Te Araroa" Is Maori for "the long pathway", and that's exactly what it is. A long pathway that'll take me the length of New Zealand.
Te = The
Ara = Pathway
Roa = Long
I will be hiking my way across both New Zealand's islands, South and North, with the occasion kayak where required (and to mix things up a bit).
You can follow my adventures on:
Instagram: @walk_for_wiggly_eyes
https://www.instagram.com/walk_for_wiggly_eyes/?hl=en
Website: https://www.walkforwigglyeyes.com/
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/WalkforWigglyEyes/?modal=admin_todo_tour
And YouTube page: https://m.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZsSfNCOQ7SGSet8N-qXzp6USeMpn-zEN
I will be keeping updates going through all the preparation, and the walk itself.
Nystagmus is caused by a huge range of underlying conditions, from isolated problems in the eye, to Albinism and other disorders which affect multiple parts of the body. Only a small number of patients ever find out what the cause is for them. So what will I be doing to help!?
I will be raising money for two charities; Gift of Sight and Nystagmus Network. I am hoping to raise at least £10,000, £5,000 for each charity. Please see the "Team Members" for each charity for further details on the fantastic work they will be doing with the funds.
Remember: Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never share them with anyone or send you unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. They'll make sure Gift Aid (an additional 25%) is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer, too. That means more money goes to the charity, faster, with JustGiving.
