#GiveBack2020 – Nystagmus Network

Thank you, Ahrian

In 2020 Ahrian offered the Nystagmus Network her services as a volunteer. So far she has designed the logo for the @NystagmusYouth Instagram account and the new T-shirt for the 19-21 challenge.

Claire and her young son smile for the camera

Thank you, Claire

Claire and her son both have nystagmus. In 2020 Claire took part in a sky dive for the Nystagmus Network and raised £420.

For Halloween 2020 Emma and her very determined family held a coffee, cake and crafts fundraiser for the Nystagmus Network. All COVID-19 restrictions were followed and the family raised £400. An amazing effort! Thank you so much!

Thank you, Jaina

Jaina joined the Nystagmus Network team in August 2020 as an intern, spending some time to gain experience of working in a small charity. Jaina was hugely helpful in the run up to virtual Open Day 2020 and you may have ‘met’ her in our forums.

Josh and his family smile for the camera.

Thank you, Josh

Josh can’t see rain – can you? Josh was born with nystagmus and ocular albinism, but he hasn’t let that hold him back. Josh has been a primary school teacher for 7 years, completed his masters, got grade 8 piano and regularly sings in City of Birmingham Choir at Symphony Hall.

Julia and her young daughter smile for the camera. They are at the seaside and the child is holding a toy windmill.

Thank you, Julia

Living with the triple whammy of nystagmus, myopia and astigmatism, Julia is an accomplished musician. She also sings in choirs, which often happens in poorly lit churches.

Thank you, Libby

Inspired by her 2 younger sisters, who both have nystagmus, final year geography student, Libby chose to explore the experiences of young visually impaired adults in their local space and environment and the impacts on identity formation for her dissertation.

Thank you, Mervyn

Nystagmus can be challenging to diagnose in children and often the level of sight loss a newly diagnosed child will experience is unclear, leading to significant anxiety for parents who fear their child will develop severe visual impairment.

Mike wears his Nystagmus Network T short and smiles for the camera

Thank you, Mike

What can we say about Mike that hasn’t been said already? He endured so much for the nystagmus cause this year – including very wet feet, a constantly rumbling tummy and often only the company of chickens!

Thank you, Nadine

Thanks to her book ‘Can I tell you about nystagmus?’, children and their parents feel better able to explain nystagmus to others. In 2020, with the country in lockdown and schools closed, Nadine came up trumps again with advice and tips for parents struggling with homeschooling.

Thank you, Nikita

On World Sight Day 2020, Nikita was named an Eye Health Hero by the IAPB (the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness). Nominated for her innovative work in perimetry, we’re sure that Nikita has a brilliant nystagmus research career ahead of her.

Zoe wears a care worker's uniform and a face mask pulled down under her chin for the photo.

Thank you, Zoe

It’s fitting that our final nystagmus hero of 2020 is someone who has been working tirelessly all year looking after some of our most vulnerable people.