Hakim Group team completes London Marathon

A team of six runners from the Hakim Group completed the London Marathon on Sunday (22 April) as part of the independent’s pledge to raise £100,000 for Vision Aid Overseas (VAO).

Running on what was the hottest-ever London Marathon on record, Optix support manager Jo Macklin, practice partner and dispensing optician Michaela Mayes, practice partner and optometrist Suhayel Issa, practice partner and optometrist Aled Brassington, practice partner and dispensing optician Simon Mann, and CEO Imran Hakim all safely completed the race.

Mr Hakim extended his thanks to everyone that supported the team and made a donation, which reached over £14,000.

“It was an overwhelming feeling to finish with the wind in our sails, knowing that we had smashed our fundraising target for this leg of our £100,000 fundraising challenge and I’m so grateful to everyone who helped make it happen,” he said.

As part of the independent’s fundraising activity for VAO, the Hakim Group will host its annual charity BBQ in the summer, as well as activities at individual practices. These include an ‘in-store marathon’ at Oakwood Eyecare, which will see staff take turns on a treadmill to reach 26 miles.

Other activity includes Vera Wilton Optometrists completing a charity walk in the Lake District and a ‘virtual walk to Pisa,’ which will see Adlam and Coomber Optometrists clock enough steps on a pedometer to have walked to the Italian city throughout May. 

Senior fundraising officer at VAO, Sarah Namusobya, said that the charity is “incredibly proud” of the team who completed the marathon. 

She added that donations will go towards helping the charity provide quality and affordable eye care services to children and adults in partner countries across Africa.

Pictured (l–r) is Ms Mayes, Mr Hakim, Mr Brassington, Mark Roberts (who was unable to participate due to injury), Ms Issa, Mr Mann and Ms Macklin