A BOY who is gradually losing his own eyesight aged just eight-years-old will take part in a fundraising walk to help others avoid the same fate.

Kind hearted Ronny Sayes, of The Fielders, Canvey, will set off with family and friends at Thorney Bay pub in Canvey and finish at the Peterboat in Old Leigh more than six miles away.

Every penny they raise will go towards the Fight for Sight charity which carries out research on finding a cure for the disease.

Ronny has Stargardt Disease.

It is a form of inherited juvenile macular degeneration, a condition which kills cells in the central part of the retina and causes progressive vision loss.

It affects central vision rather than peripheral vision.

It has been a difficult time for Ronny and his mum Georgina, since his diagnosis in January.

The onset of symptoms was sudden, and his vision is deteriorating rapidly.

In the space of six months Ronny has already been registered as severely visually impaired with around 10 to 15 per cent of his normal vision remaining.

Ronny’s central vision will continue to worsen, although he will still have the use of his peripheral vision at the side.

Ronny’s mum Georgina Artus, 31, of The Fielders, Canvey, said: “It has been really tough, and Ronny has good and bad days and gets very frustrated, but he has coped unbelievably well and is having to adapt to life living with this currently incurable disease.

“I noticed Ronny’s eyes were getting lazy and he was quite clumsy, so we went to the opticians and he couldn’t see any letters whatsoever.

“He was referred to Southend Hospital where there was a waiting list of three months for an appointment, so we went privately through the Wellesley Hospital and then Great Ormond Street who have taken over from there.

“Ronny is finally starting to accept things are changing.

“He now opens up to us about it and is starting to ask for help when he needs it.

“Currently we are well above our fundraising target. So far, £2,700 has been raised and Ronny is very excited and overwhelmed by the support.”

To donate, please visit https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/georgina-artus