A BLIND woman has helped to raise more than £2 million by walking 1,000 steps a day for a week.

Margaret Weir has been dubbed "Brighton's Captain Tom" for her efforts to raise money for a blindness charity.

The 86-year-old, who is registered blind and has had a rare form of glaucoma for the past 40 years, said she wants to help people in other parts of the world where eye surgery is not easily available.

Using her three wheeled walker, she has managed to raise £2,645 as part of Christian Blind Mission's Light up Lives scheme.

In total, the campaign has raised £2.3 million, which will be used to launch a new three-year programme to improve access to vital eye health services in Zimbabwe.

Speaking earlier this year, Margaret said said: "I have a minimum of sight - it feels like I'm walking around in fog a lot of the time but I live independently.

"I've had five operations over the years. It's been a long journey and I've had superb attention.

"I could have been blind a lot sooner but they have always worked to preserve my sight, which I'm tremendously grateful for - all under the NHS.

"One of the reasons I really want to do this is I sort of feel like I'm at the end of my life.

"I had good sight for quite a bit of that time but there are people who are much younger in the developing world, and if only they could have surgery it would give them better chances in life.

"I just feel I want to give the gift of sight, which means so much to us all."

The grandmother-of-nine walked 1,000 steps every day for one week in May mostly in Surrenden Park, near her home.

Kirsty Smith, Chief Executive of CBM UK, said: “This is an amazing result that will make such a difference to people living with sight problems in the world’s poorest communities – thank you so much to all the wonderful individuals and organisations who supported the Light up Lives appeal.

“Despite the ongoing pressures of the Coronavirus pandemic, our supporters have responded with huge generosity; it’s been an inspiration to see so many people raising awareness and funds.”

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