I'm running the Great North Run on the 12 September to raise money for a small charity that is close to me and my family, CHECT. The Childhood Eye Cancer Trust (CHECT) is the only UK Charity solely dedicated to helping families and individuals affected by Retinoblastoma, a rare form of eye cancer. By providing support, raising awareness and funding research into prevention and treatment. 

What was a normal night bathing my boys all changed when I picked up Hugo and saw something in his eye that I didn't like the look of. I hoped it was just a reflection from a spot light but I read an article many years prior and knew I had to get a photo with the flash on. When I took that photo and confirmed my fears I was scared and didn't want to worry my wife but told her he needed his eyes checking immediately. Opticians wouldn't check them and a doctors appointment led us to Moorfields who confirmed my fears but referred us to the Royal London Hospital for diagnosis. A week from spotting the glow our fears were confirmed as we got the news it was cancer and Retinoblastoma.

From that day Chect has supported us and provided information and guidance. The members days have enabled us to meet families going through the same experiences as us and allowed us to see how the future can be. This has been invaluable for us to make sense of what is happening and how our life will be going forwards for our family and more importantly for Hugo.

I'm hoping to raise funds and awareness. A lot of charity work is often just that, raising awareness, and even if you don't donate please take a moment to read through below to learn what Retinoblastoma is and how you can help spot it and potentially save a life. 

Retinoblastoma (Rb) is a type of eye cancer that affects young children, mainly under the age of six. It develops in the cells of the retina, the light sensitive lining of the eye. Around 40-50 cases are diagnosed in the UK every year - approximately one child a week. Retinoblastoma can either affect one or both eyes.

Retinoblastoma has one of the best survival rates of all the childhood cancers. In the UK, around 98% per cent of children will survive but early diagnosis is really important. if you see one or more of the following signs of Retinoblastoma, be sure to get your child's eyes checked urgently just to be safe. Retinoblastoma is highly treatable but early diagnosis is vital. The two main symptoms are a white glow and a squint. If your child has these, don't ignore them. 

More information can be found at http://chect.org.uk/