STAFF at The Shrewsbury and Telford NHS Trust (SaTH) are embarking on the Three Peaks Challenge to scale England’s highest mountain – Scafell Pike.

Staff from the medical retina team at SaTH, including Royal Shrewsbury Hospital (RSH) and the Princess Royal Hospital (PRH) in Telford, will be climbing the 978 metres high mountain, Scafell Pike, in the Lake District, on Saturday, April 30.

This is not the team’s first trek, having previously raised £4,000 taking on the 1,085 metres Welsh peak Mount Snowdon.

The squad led by Consultant Ophthalmologist Devaki Nayak along with senior Ophthalmology colleagues Prasad Rao, Lakshika Perera, joined by Ophthalmology manager Andrew Evans, are hoping to gather at least £10,000 this time around.

Director of public participation at SaTH, Julia Clarke, said: “The team did a fantastic job raising money after conquering Snowdon and we wish them luck with their Scafell Pike challenge.”

The trekkers’ aim is to be able to afford more equipment that will prevent and detect these illnesses, in order to provide early treatment to avoid blindness and improve prognosis for vision in every patient.

Julia added: “Early diagnosis and shorter waiting times lead to earlier treatment which will save sight.

"Raising funds will help buy additional equipment and multiple fundraisers are being organised by the team to achieve their goal."

Yearly, SaTH receives over 58,000 appointments.

Therefore, the trust works to improve the patient-focused services, so that they can provide special care for their communities.

The crew are hoping to embark on their third and final excursion, taking on Ben Nevis, Scotland, a peak that is 1,345 metres above the sea level, in July.

This will be the highest one that they would have conquered.

The SaTH, including RSH and PRH, is the main acute hospital care provider for around 500,000 people from Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin and mid Wales.

They mainly focus on conditions that lead to blindness such as Macular Degeneration, Diabetic Retinopathy, Retinal Vein Occlusion and many more.

If anybody would like to sponsor them for their latest challenge, please visit https://justgiving.com/campaign/savingsight