84 & taking on 34 km

26 September 2024

By Hannah Wilcox

Waverton resident Ian Dance is set to take on this year’s Sydney Harbour Hike in memory of his late sister.

The hike, a 34 kilometre trek from Bondi Beach to Broughton Street Lookout in Kirribilli, began in 2022.

It has raised over $480,000 since its inception for the Fred Hollows Foundation, supporting sight-restoring programs in more than 25 countries. 

Accompanied by his son and daughter-in-law, the 84-year-old will be taking on the trek in memory of his late sister Margaret. 

Both a patient and student of Dr Hollows, she developed corneal ulcers and became blind in one eye whilst studying medicine at the University of New South Wales in 1961.

Throughout the course of her residency Margaret went on to lose vision in her other eye – rendering her completely blind.

Amazingly, a third corneal graft restored her vision, with Dr Hollows – recently appointed as Associate Professor of Ophthalmology at UNSW – managing her treatments.

She passed away in 1968.

Ian has been training hard, despite his own visual challenges, by walking from Waverton to Double Bay.

He has already raised $5967 towards his $7000 goal – the equivalent of restoring sight in up to 239 people.  

“I am thrilled that Ian, along with so many others, will take on the Sydney Harbour Hike to honour Fred’s legacy and support our mission,” The Fred Hollows Foundation Communications Director Alison Hill said.

“The event’s spectacular setting and the commitment of participants like Ian highlight the profound impact of collective effort in the fight against avoidable blindness.”