‘As far as you can see, as far as you can go,' Canadian couple Edith Lemay and Sebastien Pelletier say of the world tour they are on with their four children.

Mia, the couple’s eldest daughter, was three years old when her parents first noticed that she was having vision problems. Mia's father says she is suffering from retinitis pigmentosa, a genetic disease that can cause vision loss over the years. Although the daughter was the first to contract the disease, two of their sons, seven-year-old Colin and five-year-old Laurent, also started showing symptoms, being diagnosed with the same disease soon.

The couple was not discouraged by the opinion of doctors that the children cannot be cured completely. Instead, they started training the children to lead a smooth life in case they lose their vision completely. They also decided to gift them with memories of a world, one they can cherish for a lifetime.

It is not known how quickly the disease will progress, but Lemay said she thinks her children may lose their sight completely before they reach middle age.

Lemay and Pelletier began to raise money for the world tour and started their journey from Namibia in 2020. From there the family went on to Zambia and Tanzania, Turkey, Mongolia and Indonesia. They had planned to go to Russia and China but the covid pandemic halted their plans. With the travel ban now lifted, they are touring Montreal, Canada and are preparing for their next destination.

The couple says that travelling with six people can be fun and uncomfortable at the same time. Each child has different interests. If one person wants to see lots of animals, another is interested in the beauty of nature. When one wants to experience water and heat, the other is interested in meeting people. Fatigue, restlessness, and inconvenience often catch up, the children however have learnt to adapt to each situation.

Mia, now 12 years old, often asks her parents what it would be like to be completely blind. Seven-year-old Laurent needs to know if he can drive a car when he is blind.. ! Their curiosity about life and the world is endless, and every journey begins and ends with endless questions. As they travel to each country, they absorb the food, culture and customs, says Lemay and Pelletier.

Both share their experiences of the world tour through social media. Although the disease is serious, they hope and pray that treatment is discovered soon. They hope the day does not come when the children will lose their sight completely.

Unfazed, the family of six looks forward to their next trip to fill their minds and memories with pictures that will remain with them forever.