Sarah’s Story

A Message from Sarah Canning

Why am I doing a year of challenges?

Last summer, as I watched my son complete the Bristol Triathlon, I was captivated by the achievement of two sight impaired/blind competitors who completed the course with their sighted guides.

This has inspired my future ambition of becoming a sighted guide, supporting people with sight loss to participate in swimming, cycling & hiking adventures, & in so doing, become more active and live healthier lives.

I have had the privilege to work in NHS hospital optometry for over 35 years and I never fail to be amazed by the determination of so many of my patients who overcome their sight loss and get on with their lives so positively, but access to activities and adventures can be difficult for some.

I have decided to take on a series of challenges to mark my 60th year, testing myself both physically and mentally in memory of my Dad & Mum who both passed away in recent years following heart related illnesses, and as a first step in realising my ambition, within the constraints of my current busy work & life.

My parents were my motivation in following a career in optometry and Dad, an optometrist, was also a keen cyclist and swimmer. I think it’s fair to say I have been quite influenced by his life journey.

Dad suffered his first cardiac event in his early 50s and after a decade of medical treatment underwent quadruple heart bypass surgery at Bristol Royal Infirmary at the age of 60 – my age now.

He subsequently needed further surgical inventions and with the skill and care of the cardiologists and teams caring for him, went on to live a further 27 years, enriching the lives of so many and being so prominent in the lives of his 4 grandchildren who he adored. Mum passed away in 2021 at the marvellous age of 91 from heart failure, again her life prolonged by the fabulous medical care she received.

Why Heart Research UK and Moorfields Eye Charity?

The reason I want to fundraise for my 2 chosen charities is to support both charities’ quests to reduce the number of lives cut short by heart disease and the number of people whose lives are impacted by irreversible sight loss.

Heart Research UK heartresearch.org.uk funds pioneering medical research into the prevention, treatment, and cure of heart disease and, through Healthy Heart Grants to community projects across the UK that focus on heart health, promote healthier, happier longer lives particularly for minority & excluded groups.

I currently work at Moorfields Eye Hospital in London and have been fortunate to witness remarkable advances in eye treatments realised through ground-breaking research, which can prevent sight loss or restore sight with life changing impacts for individuals and families.

Moorfields Eye Charity moorfieldseyecharity.org.uk funds research into eye conditions & innovations in patient care and training at Moorfields and UCL, changing the lives of people living with eye conditions.