{"id":4272,"date":"2024-05-13T09:15:09","date_gmt":"2024-05-13T08:15:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mft.nhs.uk\/royal-eye\/titanic-trek\/"},"modified":"2025-10-23T13:28:52","modified_gmt":"2025-10-23T13:28:52","slug":"titanic-trek","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mft.nhs.uk\/royal-eye\/titanic-trek\/","title":{"rendered":"Titanic trek for charity; Cumbrian man stops by the Manchester hospital that saved his vision as he walks the length of Great Britain."},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]Titanic trek for charity; Cumbrian man stops by the Manchester hospital that saved his vision as he walks the length of Great Britain.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

John Barrett, 62 and from South Cumbria, has been walking from Land\u2019s End in Cornwall and is on his way to John O\u2019Groats in the Scottish Highlands to raise money for charity.<\/p>\n

Previously a patient at Manchester University Foundation Trust\u2019s Manchester Royal Eye Hospital, John felt compelled to do something to raise awareness and help others after he received several treatments to preserve his vision.<\/p>\n

Now retired, John said of his giant journey:<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve been doing the walk to raise money for Sightsavers, I have very poor vision in my left eye because of glaucoma damage and without intervention my right eye would have gone the same way and I would have very little vision.<\/p>\n

\u201cAcross the world there are so many people who don\u2019t have access to the kind of excellent care I had and I want to help change that. The work of the staff at the eye hospital has changed my life and ensured I can still enjoy the things I love to the fullest. Without the multiple surgeries I\u2019ve had, I wouldn\u2019t have been able to do my bucket list walk across the country and I wouldn\u2019t live such a full life with my wife, three sons and their families.<\/p>\n

\u201cI love long walks and Land\u2019s End to John O\u2019Groats has always been the big one I wanted to do. After my care at Manchester Royal Eye Hospital, I realise we need to get on with things whilst we still can and it seemed the perfect way for me to raise awareness and funds for a vital charity.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou do have a new perspective and value on life when something you take for granted like your vision is almost lost. I remember after I had a cataract removed, I looked outside and commented on what a stunning day it was to my wife. She told me it was grey and miserable, but to me it was so bright and clear – it made me so grateful for the medical support.\u201d<\/p>\n

Whilst at Manchester Royal Eye Hospital, John was treated by Mr Leon Au, Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon who said of John\u2019s time at the hospital:<\/p>\n

\u201cJohn was very appreciative as a patient, always smiling and popular with our staff. Everyone was so pleased to hear that he was doing this walk for charity. I\u2019m so happy his condition is under control and he can do this to raise awareness and help improve the prospects of others.<\/p>\n

\u201cGlaucoma is the second biggest cause of blindness in UK and estimated 50% of patients are underdiagnosed. John came to us with already advanced glaucoma and needed several glaucoma drainage surgeries in both eyes to stabilise things, I\u2019m glad it\u2019s all worked out so well for him following his treatment with us. It\u2019s something a lot of people go through and if it\u2019s treated early it can be much easier to manage.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"As John made a quick stop at the hospital, he was greeted by staff who wanted to applaud his determination to do something for others and thank him for the kind words he has shared about staff and his care.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Speaking at Manchester Royal Eye Hospital, he said:<\/p>\n

\u201cThe care I received at Manchester Royal Eye Hospital was exceptional. What stood out was that no matter which staff member I met, or what their job was, they were so thoughtful and positive. No matter how busy they were, everybody was so charming and pleasant, I always felt comfortable and there was always\u00a0a positive atmosphere which I know is really difficult to achieve in a big organisation. The complexity of what they do and the results they achieve are amazing.\u201d<\/p>\n

John started his adventure for charity on Monday 1st April, something his wife didn\u2019t think was wise:<\/p>\n

\u201cMy wife, Anne, thought it\u2019s a poor idea to start the walk on April Fool\u2019s Day, but it\u2019s been great and I\u2019ve seen so much since I started, I love the array of people you meet and the things you see you otherwise miss in a car.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe best bit so far is probably standing on top of Exmoor completely alone surrounded by some of the UK\u2019s best scenery, it felt a real privilege. The worst bit was probably the horrific weather in the first two weeks and some of the deepest mud I\u2019ve ever seen in Cornwall.<\/p>\n

\"\"\u201cI\u2019ve also been so touched by the acts of human kindness I\u2019ve seen and the people I\u2019ve met. There was one occasion where I was sat on a bench resting having run out of water, a lady walking her dog stopped to talk to me and insisted on taking my empty bottles home to fill up with water. She mustn\u2019t have lived too close as she was gone a short while, it was a lovely moment when she came back with her arms full of full bottles.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m aiming to finish around the 23rd June which will be nearly three months of walking and tenting. I’m hoping Anne will be there to see me finish, but we have a grandchild due so it could be a tough choice for her. If she’s not there\u00a0I\u2019ll probably cap it off with a pint instead.\u201d[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]Titanic trek for charity; Cumbrian man stops by the Manchester hospital that saved his vision as he walks the length of Great Britain. 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