Thea's 'Miles for veterans' challenge

Over £1,300 has been raised by a group of pharmaceutical company employees who took part in a ‘Miles for veterans’ challenge this September in support of our blind veterans.

Thea Pharmaceuticals, supporters of our charity since 2015, asked employees to sign up to walk a mile a day during September. The challenge would not only raise vital funds for our blind veterans, but also encourage their remote and office-based team members to improve their own health and wellbeing by being more active.

Twenty team members took on the challenge with the aim of raising £500 and they have raised £1,331.

Navneet, who took part, says:

“The Miles for Veterans challenge has truly elevated my fitness regime. I’m fitting walking and light jogging in around my usual cycling routine and I’m finding that both my physical and mental wellbeing are improving.

“Aside from seeing beautiful misty mornings in the park, knowing that I’m doing this for such a worthy cause has given me the motivation to continue beyond this month.”

Ongoing support

Thea Pharmaceuticals specialises in ophthalmology and eye care. Their impact on the lives of those with sight loss extends beyond their field of expertise to the lives of our blind veterans.

Since 2015, Team Thea, has consistently supported our initiatives and encouraged employee fundraising, including bake sales, donkey walks, band nights and participation in events such as the London Marathon. So far they have raised over £85,500 to support our work with veterans living with sight loss.

Just last month, team member Raj joined a team from Hillingdon Hospital’s ophthalmology department to take on a fundraising skydive. The team raised just over £3,000.

Remembrance

This year will also mark the fifth year of Thea’s support for our Gift a Wreath campaign. Their donations to this campaign have helped ensure that veterans are able to take an active part in their local Remembrance commemorations, by laying a wreath. A number of Thea team members have also laid wreaths bearing our logo in their own communities, helping to raise awareness of the support we are able to offer to many of those who attend these events.

Sheema, the country manager for the UK at Thea Pharmaceuticals, says:

“We are forever in the debt of the brave men and women who have served our country and continue to be humbled by all the blind veterans we have met and what they have achieved with the support of the charity.”

Victoria from our Community Partnerships team says:

“We are privileged that Thea Pharmaceuticals, an organisation that understands only to well the impact of sight loss, has chosen to stand by our veterans and champion our cause for as long as they have.

"We thank them for their continued support and the enthusiasm they show for our work in their bringing on board other supporters like Hillingdon Hospital’s ophthalmology department. It’s wonderful that they feel so confident in the impact our work has that they wish to involve others in supporting us widen our reach.”