A Pwllheli dad has started a fundraising campaign after sending his child to nursery in odd shoes.
Andy Johnson, a watersports instructor with only five per cent vision due to retinal dystrophy, accidentally dressed his son in different shoes, sparking laughter and an innovative idea.
He is now encouraging parents to send their children to school or nursery in mismatched shoes on October 10, World Sight Day, to raise funds for Guide Dogs.
Eight schools and nurseries, primarily on the Llŷn Peninsula, have already agreed to participate, with parents asked to donate £1 to Guide Dogs for each child who takes part.
Mr Johnson, known as Roo, shares his story on social media under the moniker ‘The Blind Watersports Dad’.
He said: "Sending four-year-old Oakey to nursery in odd shoes was a complete accident, and my wife Danni didn’t even notice until they got to the gates.
"We’re hoping it won’t be too long before I’m matched with a guide dog who loves the beach, but in the meantime, I want to raise awareness of the charity and give something back."
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Mr Johnson and his wife run Abersoch Hydro and recently introduced a group of visually impaired children to watersports like kayaking, paddle boarding, and sailing.
Mr Johnson said: "This was not only giving them confidence but also showing them they can do anything.
"We also hosted a group of people from Blind Veterans UK and would like to do more of this in future."
The couple will spend time in school on World Sight Day with Oakey and his big brother Finley, eight so that they can share their experiences of sight loss with classmates.
If you'd like to get your school or nursery involved in the fun and help Guide Dogs, please visit justgiving.com/campaign/oddshoesday.
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