Team steps up to beat challenge for charity

A TEAM from a Leicester opticians set themselves a challenge of completing two million steps in a week to raise funds in memory of their colleague, Asiya Osman.

Thirty-five members of staff from Specsavers in Belgrave Gate came together and beat their original fundraising goal of £1,000 to raise £3,405 for breast cancer charity Stage 4 Deserves More.

They also smashed their original two million-step target by walking an additional 365,513 steps between them.

Optometrist Firoza Daya said: “We are incredibly grateful to all those that supported and sponsored us. Despite this being a challenge for us all we were passionate about doing something positive in memory of Asiya.

“The charity, Stage 4 Deserves More, was chosen by Asiya’s family as it was a huge support for her during her treatment for breast cancer.”

Kay Cartwright, who worked with Asiya for 10 years, said: “Not only have we raised vital funds for a brilliant cause, the challenge has encouraged us all to get outside more and be more active,. We are all determined to keep our step count up, despite the pressures of daily life.”

Stage 4 Deserves More is a small, non-profit organisation run by Gemma Ellis, who is herself suffering from breast cancer. The charity creates free support packs for women (and men) in the UK diagnosed with secondary breast cancer, offers a free, weekly “treat” raffle for members and helps to fund crucial secondary breast cancer research projects including a recent study by The University of Manchester.

To find out more about Stage 4 Deserves More and how to donate, you can visit the charity’s website: