Hucknall Specsavers staff walked 500 miles for Nottingham Hospitals Charity

For while the High Street store remains open only for urgent or essential eye care, staff who are furloughed are keeping in touch virtually and decided to set themselves a challenge to walk, run or cycle 500 miles collectively before the end of April, to support local hospitals.

Store director, Janet Archer, said: “I could not be prouder of our brilliant team in these very difficult times.

“We want to do what we can to support our hospitals and we’re very grateful to people who feel able to make a donation.

“We’re a close team and we've been keeping in touch with all our staff, individually and with social events including virtual quizzes, organised by senior optical assistant, Jessica Rigley.

“Several staff members have been volunteering while on furlough and this latest fundraiser is another example of our team working together even though we can’t be at work together at the moment.”

Altogether the staff walked, ran and cycled a total of 526.9 miles.

Jessica Rigley, senior optical assistant, said: “I am so proud to be part of an amazing team and so happy that we could raise some money for our amazing NHS heroes.

“From the bottom of our hearts we thank you and hope everyone is safe and to those facing a difficult time you’re in our thoughts and we are sending you well wishes.”

Donations, which currently stand at £135, can still be made using the justgiving link www.justgiving.com/fundraising/specsavershucknallchallenge.

Specsavers' teams are classed as key workers to provide urgent and essential eye care to those who need it.

This includes supporting other key workers who couldn’t function without their help and people who would come to harm without their health expertise, especially where the usual hospital services and NHS facilities are being prioritised for the fight against Covid-19.

Customers with urgent concerns can use a new RemoteCare service, which allows video consultations by visiting www.specsavers.co.uk/online-consultation-service or call the store on 0115 9889 050.