Opticians start 6,000 mile race to fight sight loss

Opticians are starting a challenge to run, walk and cycle 6,214 miles (10,000km) in 2026 - one kilometre for each person estimated to be living with sight loss across Devon and Cornwall.

Optician Tom Mannering said: "This number has real meaning for us and sight loss impacts people on a daily basis."

The extreme challenge is the brainchild of the team at Huxter and Davy Opticians which has branches in Kingsbridge, Torpoint, Looe, and Padstow, as a way of "giving something back" to the community.

They are raising money and awareness for Devon in Sight, which celebrated its centenary in 2025 and 170-year-old iSight Cornwall, two charities which support people with low vision.

The team has already laced up their trainers to start the "Turning Kilometres into Kindness" challenge and will be using a fitness app to record the miles they clock up.

Mr Mannering urged people to donate money to their fundraiser via JustGiving.

He also encouraged people who are worried about their eye health to get it checked out.

"We can pick up things before they get bad," he said.

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