In the year 2000, I returned home from my first run. I was over heated, sore, and physically exhausted, but I knew I had found my sport. Over the next 20 years, I challenged myself with faster speeds, longer distances and more difficult courses. 

Even though I had always taken breaks away from running, it had been something I continually returned to over the years. In 2020, I lost my passion for running, and decided it was time to find other ways to fill my time. Some days, I would think of beautiful courses or people I used to run with, but accepted the fact that I had moved my life away from running.

Weeks turned into months, and months turned into years. Interests, friendships, and my overall life changed. My career advanced and I became the Director of Events and Engagement at the Glaucoma Research Foundation. I started volunteering and in 2022, I became the President of the Rotary Club of San Francisco. As I found myself with some free time and wanted to reduce my time on social media, I decided to focus more on reading for pleasure. When going through unread books in early 2023, I found a book that was gifted to me, "Marathon Man" by Bill Rodgers and Matthew Shepatin. As I read the book, my eyes filled with tears, bringing back a desire and passion to run again. 

One Wednesday evening, I put on a pair of sneakers and I went for a 5-mile (8.05 Kilometers) run. The next day, I went for another run. After 8 weeks of continual running, my body started transforming, my mind was more focused, and running had again become a part of my life. While I was no longer chasing speed or a longer distance, I wanted to use running to make a difference for others in the world. 

When looking at running races on social media, I came across the British Blind Sport (BBS) team at the London Marathon in 2023. I felt an immediate connection to the organization and an ambition to raise money and run with the team for the 2024 London Marathon. BBS is the only national sports and physical activity charity exclusively for people with sight loss.

In the UK, there are more than 2 million children and adults with severe sight loss and they need our help. BBS uses the power of sport to support children and adults with sight loss to lead more active, independent and healthy lives. Physical activity has the huge potential to transform the health and wellbeing of people with sight loss. BBS' mission is to achieve equal opportunities for all people with sight loss in sport and physical activity, including running, and ensure that sport and regular physical activity is accessible for all people with sight loss in the United Kingdom.

Financial gifts from around-the-world are appreciated and welcomed! Please be aware, while this gift will have a significant impact on the low vision community, gifts are only tax deductible for residents of the United Kingdom.