To mark 50 years of caring for the Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire community, we wanted to do something that reflects that milestone. So, between us, we covered 50 miles through various challenges.

First up, Callum ran the London Marathon on the 26th of April. 26 miles through the streets of London. Months of training, early mornings and tired legs all led to one incredible day.

Then, on the 31st of May, a team of keen volunteers from D.I. Blow Opticians took on the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge. Together, they climbed Pen-y-Ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough in a single day, around 24 miles of walking and over 1,500 metres of climbing.

In addition to these 2 Challenges, another group of staff members got together every weekend for a month to walk a total of 50 miles in the summer! Paired with multiple coffee-and-cake sales across our practices!

We also attended and ran a couple of car boot sales to raise further money for Fight For Sight. 

We have an incredible team at D.I. Blow Opticians who collaborated together across multiple challenges and events, all in aid of the same cause. All challenges were about pushing ourselves, working as a team, and giving something back in a year that means so much to us.

In April 2024, two members of the D.I. Blow Opticians team took on one of the world’s most iconic endurance events – the London Marathon – to raise vital funds for the sight loss charity, Fight for Sight.

Ashley Hughes and Callum Hollowood crossed the finish line after completing their very first marathon, raising an incredible £5,300 in support of pioneering eye research, better treatments and support for people living with sight loss.

Their dedication, determination and months of training made this an outstanding personal achievement, while also helping to make a real difference to those affected by visual impairment.