(PreserveMacForte.com) A team of fundraisers that included three people from Leighton, UK, has brought in over £25,000 for the Macular Disease Society, reported the Leighton Buzzard Observer on September 1.
The team, which climbed the loftiest mountain peak on the African continent in a bid to raise funds for charity, has won the Fundraisers of the Year award. The award is part of the Macular Disease Society’s quarter-century Anniversary Awards of Excellence that honors those whose hard work and self-less spirit leads them to raise funds to fight age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and other macular illnesses.
According to the article, AMD, an eye ailment that can lead to blindness, is the leading cause of vision loss in the UK. AMD usually impacts the elderly, which is not to say that getting the eye condition is simply a part of aging. Nothing could be further from the truth. People who take their eye health efforts seriously — by seeing their eye doctor for tests annually, avoiding smoking and alcohol, and eating leafy green produce and omega-3 fatty acids — can dramatically reduce their odds of getting AMD.
The article added that there are various other kinds of macular disease, such as juvenile macular dystrohpies.
Tim Woodley, a Leighton resident who was part of the award-winning team, said in the article that the recognition from the Macular Disease Society is a “big surprise” for he and his team mates. He added, however, that he and his teammates are “very happy” to have been recognized for their efforts. Woodley, who has macular disease, said in the article that the campaign effort was a “tough challenge” that was worthwhile since it was for a “good cause.” He added that the sense of humor shared by he and his team helped them persevere.
According to the article, the three Leighton team members will receive their awards when the Macular Disease Society holds its conference in London on September 22.
People who want to learn more about macular disease, the risk factors and possible treatment options can contact the Macular Disease Society via email at help@maculardisease.org or via its helpline at 0300 3030 111 .