Specstart optical assistant steps up to take Charity Challenge

Specscart optical assistant Helen Gray has put her best foot forward and walked one million steps for charity.

The 46-year-old accepted the Diabetes UK challenge to clock up 500 miles – over three months – in aid of diabetes research.

Helen, who works full time at Specscart’s Urmston store, is passionate about diabetes treatment and care because of family friends who have the condition and because of her work with Specscart customers.

Helen, from Cadishead, said: “Eye tests are a crucial part of the toolkit for picking up diabetes-related eye issues. Every week I see Specscart customers whose eye examination suggests they may be living with diabetes or help Specscart customers with diabetes manage their eye health.

“It is something I feel really strongly about and where I can make a difference every day at work. Sometimes we have customers who have diabetes come into the store and say they’ve not had an eye test in ten years. I will then explain how important regular eye tests are when living with diabetes.”

Helen routinely clocks up 9,000 to 15,000 steps during a day at work where she’s helping customers choose their perfect pair of glasses, replenishing frames, and keeping the shop looking tip-top.

In 2023 she raised £350 through fundraising and sponsorship, but this year is hoping to smash a more ambitious fundraising goal of £500.

Specscart, Helen’s colleagues, and commercial partners started the ball rolling with donations ahead of the challenge start date, and Helen is giving herself until the end of the year to hit her donation target.

Specscart founder and managing director Sid Sethi said: “We’re so proud of Helen taking on this ambitious charity challenge for a disease that everyone at Specscart is all too familiar with.

“Diabetes can have a big impact on the health of your eyes, so it’s something we are very keen to raise awareness of.”

More than five million people in the UK are diabetic, with someone diagnosed every two minutes.

Diabetes UK is on a mission to create a world where diabetes can do no harm by funding vital research into life-changing treatments and providing support to help people to live better with diabetes.

Clare Howarth, Head of the North of England at Diabetes UK, said: “We are so grateful to Helen for taking part in our One Million Step Challenge. Eye health is extremely important for people living with diabetes, and we appreciate Helen going above and beyond to raise both awareness and vital funds for diabetes research, which will help bring us closer to the day that diabetes can do no harm.

“Thank you, Helen, for your support.”

Well-wishers can donate to Helen’s charity challenge via her JustGiving page: https://tinyurl.com/4shma8tt

To find out more, visit http://www.specscart.co.uk.