End-to-end walkers are half way there
ASON and his father are now around half way in attempts to walk the length of the country before he goes blind
Damian O’Connor, 32, from Rochdale, is mid way in the 874 mile charity trek from John o’ Groats to Land’s End that he undertaking with his dad Ray.
They are raising money for the Starlight Children’s Foundation and at the moment the total stands at around £270 but people can still donate.
Father-of-four Damian contracted a virus in his neck two years ago and this caused him to lose his sight. Although his vision has since returned he has been left with a black spot and doctors have told him his eyesight will deteriorate until he goes blind – so he decided to attempt the challenge of walking the length of the country before this happens.
He said: “My eyesight is only getting worse and I will go blind so I want to see all of my country before that happens.
“What better way to do it than by walking from John O’Groats to Land’s End for charity with my dad by my side. As a father, it’s amazing to walk for Starlight to help seriously ill children and show them the possibilities of what life can be.”
The walk is expected to take around seven weeks with June 30 earmarked as the day for reaching Land’s End. During the journey Damian will raise awareness by speaking to members of the public he meets about the charity.
Unfortunately Ray suffered a knee and back injury on the Glasgow stretch of the route, and has had to stop walking.
But he is continuing to support his son, following him by car, and hopes to rejoin him as a walking partner later on the route.
The Starlight Children’s Foundation supports children and teenagers suffering from serious and terminal illnesses, through its hospital entertainment and wish granting programmes.
Jess Wilde, Starlight fundraising officer, said: “Damian is a true superstar and his ‘end-to-end’ challenge is no small feat.”