Hi hi,

After a fruitful three years at uni I am not in my peak physical condition!  I therefore need your support  especially as I have had only two weeks to prepare for this run.   One of my sister's friends who was supposed to be running has injured himself and my sister turned to me to fill his space.  I joyfully accpeted without knowing that the recommended preparation for a half marathon is 2-3 months.

I am running 13.1 miles on Sunday 12th October in the Royal Parks Half Marathon on behalf of the Ciaran Buckley Trust set up in memory of my friend Sally’s brother Ciaran who suffered from birth from a rare genetic disorder called Keratitis-Ichthyosis-Deafness Syndrome (“KID syndrome”).  My sister is a trustee of the charity.

The genetic mutation that causes KID syndrome affects all ectodermal cells and thus has three major characterisations:  visual impairments caused by defects of the surface of the corneas (keratitis), a painful skin disorder caused by thickened plaques of skin (erthrokeratoderma) and chronic deafness.

Having suffered from this debilitating condition all his life, Ciaran sadly passed away in 2006 aged just 18 having suffered from an associated carcinoma.  The Trust aims to help people with similar conditions, as well as supporting research and promoting awareness about the difficulties of living with the multiple disabilities of blindness, deafness and skin disorders. 

If you would like to learn more about KID syndrome, please visit www.theciaranbuckleytrust.org where you can also find more details of the projects supported by the Trust.

I would be very grateful for any sponsorship no matter how much....

Andy