By Rachael Grealish

Two kids are walking 5k a day for a week in order to raise awareness of Nystagmus – a condition their baby brother was born with.

Issac and Everlyn Jackson ages nine and six respectively, from St Bees, are walking 5k every day this week in order to raise awareness of the condition their baby brother, Jude, lives with.

Nystagmus is a rhythmical, repetitive and involuntary movement of the eyes. According to Great Ormond Street, it is usually from side to side, but sometimes up and down or in a circular motion. Both eyes can move together or independently of each other. A person with nystagmus has no control over this movement of the eyes.

Their parents, Kate and Dion, explained to The Herdwick News, Everlyn approached them asking if there was a way they could raise awareness of the condition when she noticed the ‘mixed reactions of people when cooing over him [Jude] in public’.

Kate said: “Our daughter, Everlyn, came to us and asked if we could do something to raise awareness of the condition nystagmus (or let people know Jude’s eyes in her words) after she started to notice people’s comments of how his eyes are “all over the spot” and mixed reactions of people when cooing over him in public.”

“We try and talk about things openly together as a family so we called a family meeting and, together with Issac and Everlyn, decided to do something to raise awareness of Jude’s differences to educate others and help fund the charities that work to support families like ours whilst raising awareness in their work,” Kate continued.

Now the whole family is taking part in a 5k walk every day for a week which also fits with their normal family time.

“We tend to have scooter rides and walks before bed to fit some time in as a family out of our day that usually covers a distance of around 2k plus, so that’s where the idea of a 5K a day walk for 7 days came around,” Kate explained. “Just our everyday usual with that little bit extra as the push (making sure it’s every day too).

“Life can get so busy between work, school, activities, having a young baby and just everyday life.. taking that time together to just be a family (and tire the kids out) is important to us and gets us through anything so we thought what a better place to start.”

Along with raising awareness of Nystagmus, they are all hoping to do more to support Guide Dogs UK and the RNIB after they have supported Jude and the Jacksons.

Kate went on to say that the experience isn’t just for her children to learn more but has ‘opened the door for us to talk more freely about Jude’s differences and gave the kids a platform to openly tell people about the way they view it which is so nice to see’.

She said: “I think many of us can learn a lot from them both.”

Both Kate and Dion are incredibly proud of the initiative their children took, saying: “They make us as their parents and our families incredibly proud daily.

“They are both such selfless, mature, accepting kids. No matter what challenges Jude may face growing up, with Issac and Everlyn in his corner we know he’s going to be just fine. They’re a credit to us and we are so lucky to be their parents.”

Supporters can follow Issac and Everylyn’s progress via their Facebook page as well as donate to their fundraising page where the money will go to the charity Nystagmus Network.