On Friday the 20th of April, Kelly Telford will be holding a Charity Event, raising funds for LHONS Society. The main event will be “Working (out) 9-5”.

Vincent Ball, Reporting Lead and Jessica Offermans, J&J VMS will be training at the local gym for a full 8 hours 9-5 achievable various challenges set by colleagues. Not wanting to stop there, there will be 32 other Kelly employees there throughout the day contributing what they can from 10 minutes to a 10k run. Alongside this, various cake sales and smaller fund raising events will be held to help raise as much as possible.

Leber’s Hereditary Optic Neuropathy (LHON) is a cause close to many hearts at Telford. Jess’ Son Liam is turning 17 next week, in September of 2017 he was registered as Severely Blind, having gone from perfect health to his current condition in less than 1 year. Liam has always been a physically outgoing character and as such will be attending the event to train throughout the day to support the event.

We would like to Raise awareness and Funds to enable continues Trials to find a cure and support for people living with LHON a rare mitochondrial disease that effects the eyes.

Most of you know my Son Liam, he was registered severely blind in 04 September 2018.

At the start of April last year, he was complaining about blurred vision in his right eye; at first I thought it was because he was tired from revising for his GCSE’s.

The blurred vision just increased and got worse over the coming weeks. He also played a lot of Rugby and thought it was caused from a concussion he had.

After several Hospital appointments and MRI scans, the Specialists had ruled out that the blurred vision was down to concussion. We were asked if anyone in the Family had problems with their eyes. we mentioned my uncle had problems with his eyes and is registered blind. After confirming with my uncle, we told the Hospital that he has Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy! We didn’t know at this point exactly what it was but only knew how it had affected my uncle.

In June, we were referred to the Birmingham Children’s Hospital where they carried out further tests. After the consultation with the specialist, they were trying to explain to Liam that it could most likely be leber's hereditary optic neuropathy, the same as my uncle.

We were devastated and still hoping that it wouldn’t be, to rule it out it takes a simple blood test where they can check for it.

It is a Genetic eye disease and gets passed on from the mother only, Liam can never pass it on.

These vision problems may begin in one eye or simultaneously in both eyes. If vision loss starts in one eye, the other eye is usually affected within several weeks or months, this is known as the ‘acute’ phase. The rate of progression can vary from rapid to over 2 years, but most people are severely impaired by 3 or 4 months. Over time, vision in both eyes worsens with a severe loss of sharpness (visual acuity) and colour vision. LHON mainly affects the central vision which is required for detailed tasks such as reading, driving, and recognising faces. Peripheral vision generally remains intact so the affected individual can walk around independently. Although central vision gradually improves in a small percentage of cases, for most people the vision loss is permanent and visual acuity rarely changes thereafter.

Even with all this going on, Liam had passed his GCSE’s and is currently doing Sixth Form and revising for his next exams. Even though he finds this very challenging, he is determined to pursue his goals, though these had to change from what he wanted to do before his sight loss.

He is studying psychology, History and BTEC Sport. He would like to become a counsellor for people with Mental Health problems. Liam Loves playing guitar and has now taken up BJJ as a Sport which he is loving.

He is a very happy, enthusiastic and tries to stay positive even though very hard at times.

The Abraham Darby school and Sensory Team in Telford have been very supportive in getting everything in place so Liam can continue his studies.

Thank you everyone for the support X