WORKERS at an optician in Runcorn have spent the year raising vital funds for The UK Infantile Spasms Trust (UKIST).

The Specsavers Runcorn team have raised an incredible £3,485 for their chosen charity of the year, who help families of children who suffer from the rare seizure disorder – also known as West Syndrome.

Over the course of 2023, the determined staff have participated in a Snowdon Sunrise Walk, an instore bake sale, various fancy-dress days, a temporary tattoo shop in store, as well as donating £1 from every customer feedback response received in the month of October.

Josh Francis, store manager at Specsavers Runcorn, said: “We choose a different charity to support as a store each year, and 2023 was the year we chose to support UKIST.

“We have a special connection to the charity as one of the dispensing opticians at the store here has a son with the condition, and he often comes into store and interacts with us.

“UKIST is a lesser-known charity here so we felt it was very important for us to show our support; without donations from the public research to help children with this condition cannot go on.

“We’d like to thank our lovely customers who have donated to our various fundraisers throughout the year, without which we would never have reached such an impressive figure.”

Jenny Rawling, chairperson of UKIST, added: “We'd like to say a massive thank you to Specsavers staff and customers for enabling us to continue helping our UKIST warriors.”