One shining example of this is the fantastic team at Blackburn Police Station, who hosted a brilliant charity raffle on the 2nd of April, raising over £3,000 in support of LOOK, a truly incredible amount that will go directly towards supporting visually impaired young people and their families across the UK.
This wasn’t just any raffle, it was an afternoon packed with laughter. Hosted by the hilarious Den Perry and featuring a stand-up set from much-loved comedian and star of Strictly Come Dancing, Chris McCausland.
Our very own Mentor Project Officer, Charlotte Milburn, attended alongside LOOK mentee Aggie to share more about the work LOOK does to support visually impaired (VI) young people and their families. Aggie, now 14, spoke bravely about her journey with sight loss and the impact that her LOOK mentor had on helping her navigate school, friendships, and the daily challenges that come with having a visual impairment.
Aggie’s Story: Why Your Donations Matter
This fundraising event was generously organised by Aggie’s family as a way to show their support for LOOK. Below, they share why the charity means so much to them and the powerful impact it continues to have on Aggie.
Aggie is a bright, resilient teenager living with a rare visual impairment called Stargardt’s Disease. Diagnosed at just six years old, she has no central vision and faces daily challenges with colour definition, depth perception, and light sensitivity. School, friendships, and independence can be difficult to navigate, but she approaches it all with humour, determination, and a love of singing that’s earned her the family nickname “Jukebox.”
When she was 11, she was paired with Kareena, a mentor through LOOK who is also visually impaired. Being able to speak openly with someone who truly understands her experience gave her confidence, reassurance, and connection. Whether it was tips on catching the school bus, learning Braille, or chatting about makeup and guide dogs, Kareena became a trusted voice and a source of friendship, it was brilliant for Aggie to realise she wasn’t alone and isn’t the only VI teenager going through this.
And while Aggie faces daily barriers, she continues to shine in every area of her life. She loves baking and is an active member of her local musical theatre group. She is currently working towards her Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award—managing challenging terrain and navigation with impressive independence, and has set her sights on applying for the 2027 World Scout Jamboree in Poland!
She constantly tells us to ‘chill,’ stop worrying and trust that she is more than capable of achieving everything she sets her mind to—and she really is.
Why Your Support Matters
There are over 25,000 children and young people living with sight loss in the UK. Receiving a diagnosis of sight loss can be devastating, whether it’s navigating school, friendships, independence, or simply being able to take part in everyday life, visually impaired young people face unique and often isolating challenges. At LOOK, we exist to ensure that no young person or family has to face that journey alone.
“My LOOK mentor has shown me that with the right support, it IS possible to pursue my dreams for the future.”
Thanks to the incredible efforts of fundraisers like Blackburn Police Station—and countless individuals and businesses across the UK—we’re able to keep vital services like our peer mentoring programme, family support networks, and community events going. Creating connection and community for visually impaired young people and their families.
From All of Us at LOOK – Thank You
To everyone who supported the Blackburn raffle, bought a ticket, donated a prize, or simply showed up to cheer us on, thank you. Your generosity means the world to us and to the young people we support.
Let’s Keep It Going
Whether you’re an individual looking to take on a challenge, a team wanting to host a quiz night, or a business ready to make LOOK your charity partner, you can help us build a brighter, more inclusive future for young people with sight loss.
Contact us at: info@look-uk.org
Together, we can change lives.
