Fundraisers walk in the dark to help children see

The Walk in the Dark was held around the streets of Peterlee to raise money for the Childhood Eye Cancer Trust (Chect).

The walk was organised by town woman, Alison Scattergood, who herself battled the disease when she was just a baby.

Alison, a lecturer at East Durham College, is an ambassador for the charity and each year during Chect week, which takes place in May, she arranges a host of various activities not only to boost funds for the charity, but also to raise awareness of the childhood cancer retinablastoma.

The mum-of-two was only a baby when her parents were given the devastating blow that she had eye cancer.

She said: “I was diagnosed with eye cancer at six weeks old and had to have my eye removed at ten weeks old to save my life.

“I have had to have my two sons checked out in their lives too, as it can be hereditary, but luckily they are fine.”

Alison, 44, said this type of cancer is still rare and not everyone is aware of the signs and symptoms that may occur in babies and young children.

She said: “This year our walk in the dark was to highlight the difficulties of living a life in the darkness from children losing their sight from eye cancer and in some cases their lives.

The barbaring lecturer, said this is the 30th anniversary of the charity and she arranged the walk to mark the milestone, starting from the Black Bull pub in Old Shotton.

She said: “Around 80 people joined me to walk in the dark, taking to the streets of Peterlee, we had an amazing night.

“I and my husband, David, would like to thank everyone so much for their support. We really were over the moon with such a fantastic turn out.

“I have received so many lovely messages and kind donations even from people who couldn’t attend the event which means so much. The charity is so close to my heart I feel blessed to be able to give something back.”

Anyone who would like to find out more about the charity can visit chect.org.uk.