A BROTHER and sister duo have raised almost £700 to help publish a ‘talking book’ as part of Peebles’ unique drive to help those with sight loss.

Six-year-old Connor Quinn raised more than £250 by holding a bake sale, taking part in a six-mile cycle, a six-mile walk, completing six lengths of the pool, reading six books and walking six dogs; just weeks after sister Ciara, seven, raised £420 by swimming seven lengths at Peebles Hydro, for seven consecutive days.

And the pair have donated the cash to sight-loss charity the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) to produce another audio book for blind or partially sighted people.

Their mother, Linda, an optician in the town, has already spent a day doing ordinary household tasks wearing special spectacles that mimic common sight loss conditions, sponsored by friends and family.

Angela Preston, fundraising manager for RNIB Scotland, told us: “Connor and Ciara’s efforts have been absolutely magnificent. They have spent their summer holidays really stretching themselves to help make sure other children can enjoy the same books that they do.

“We hope that Connor and Ciara will inspire others in Peebles to join in this community’s very generous drive to raise funds for ‘talking books’ for the blind. It can be anything – a sponsored walk, read, or bake-sale... it doesn’t matter as long as you, your friends, colleagues or family have fun and add to Peebles’ wonderful support for all those with sight loss.”

Peebles is the first town in the UK to sponsor ‘talking books’ as a community, with local businesses, community groups and schools having now raised more than £9,300 to date.

The RNIB ‘talking books’ library provides over 30,000 audio-books a year to adults and children with sight loss. The youngest reader is one-year-old and the oldest 104.

Angela added: “It costs RNIB up to £1,500 to professionally narrate and record a ‘talking book’ for children and we do rely on the support of the public to help us add new titles to our library. These are lent out free to anyone with sight loss.”

To take on a challenge, you can set up your own Just Giving Page or ask people to donate directly to Ciara’s swimming challenge at http://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/linda-quinn7