Hawke’s Bay optometrist Niall McCormack is walking the length of New Zealand to raise funds to build a small eye clinic in Shinyanga, a remote part of Northern Tanzania.
Tackling the 3,008km Te Araroa trail in one hit, McCormack said he hopes to complete it in 130-135 days. Speaking to NZ Optics 15 days in, he had just arrived at the Whananaki campground in Northland in the midst of a storm. Still upbeat, he said it had been a wonderful experience so far. “It’s like its own little community on the trail. Any optometrist keen to join me for a day or two would be most welcome.”
The Eye Care for Africa charity was founded by McCormack in 2017 to provide eyecare to some of the most marginalised groups in the countries of Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Kenya. It all began when he accepted an invitation to visit and provide eyecare to an orphanage in Uganda. While there, McCormack became acutely aware of the dire situation. “I was astonished at the level of need. I saw children with conditions such as cataract whose eyesight was in desperate need of appropriate attention.” A director of Specsavers Hastings, McCormack said he plans to travel to Tanzania in May 2023 and hopes to bring some colleagues with him.
At the time of print, McCormack had raised $9,140 of his $30,000 target. About $200,000 is required to build the eye clinic and the charity has already raised $40,000 through other endeavours. To support McCormack, visit Give a Little.
Follow McCormack’s progress here. Keen to join McCormack on the trek? Please contact [email protected].
