Scope launches fundraising challenge #6MinuteLockdown

Scope has launched a six-minute challenge to raise money for the Royal Society for Blind Children and ChildVision.

The #6MinuteLockdown challenge asks participants to complete an everyday task for six minutes while blindfolded, to highlight how people who are blind or partially sighted experience the world both during, and outside of, lockdown restrictions.

The company has set the challenge at six minutes to reflect the six months of lockdown restrictions experienced across the UK and Ireland since March, as well as the six weeks of lockdown underway in Ireland.

Scope highlighted that 250 people every day start to lose their sight in the UK, equating to one person every six minutes, while around six million people are estimated to be living with sight-threatening eye conditions in the UK.

The campaign aims to raise funds for the two charities, which support blind and visually impaired children in Ireland and the UK and have been providing vital services throughout lockdown. Scope will match funds raised via their fundraising page.

At the time of writing, the fundraiser has already reached €3567 (£3072) of its €10,000 (£8965) target.

Tom Freyne, managing director at Scope, commented: “The #6MinuteLockdown gives us an opportunity to raise funds for these vital organisations and experience a small taste of what those who are blind and partially sighted do every day.”

The company is encouraging customers, partners and friends to participate in the challenge and to help raise funds.

To take part, participants need to share a short video on social media of themselves undertaking an everyday task using the hashtag #6MinuteLockdown, and nominate three others to take part.