Azeem - World's youngest blind person to complete one of the toughest events on the planet

I am a blind student who doesn't allow his disability to overshadow his ability and instead of letting my disability act as an excuse, on September 10th I attempt to complete the greatest challenge of my life to raise money for those who have allowed me to see something instead of nothing and become the youngest blind person in the world to complete Tough Mudder.

I’m 17 and from Rochdale, Studying A levels at Rochdale Sixth Form College and an aspiring blind footballer hoping to represent his country in the very near future. I have never shied away from a challenge. Being born with a very severe eye condition and still having always participated in main stream education nothing has ever stopped me from achieving my ambitions. Next month I raise the bar and attempt something that has never been done before all in the name of charity. On September 10th, I aim to overcome my lack of sight and complete the biggest challenge of my life by miles, Tough Mudder. “Tough Mudder is a 12 mile mud and obstacle course designed to drag you out of your comfort zone by testing your physical strength, stamina and mental grit. With no podiums, winners or clocks to race against, it’s not about how fast you can cross the finish line. Rather, it’s a challenge that emphasizes teamwork, camaraderie, and accomplishing something almost as tough as you are.” Not only would this be a huge test for any person but more so for me. I am lucky enough to have the support of a man who has completed Tough Mudder twice before and will be guiding me through the course, my old PE teacher Sam Dainty. Together we are confident that we can be successful in achieving this really challenging goal!

A huge thank you to Mark Moorhouse, the Head Teacher at Matthew Moss high school, for sponsoring us to take part as well as Rochdale Sixth Form College and Crossfit OL1 for huge support.

We are raising money for Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Charity, in particular the Manchester Royal Eye Hospital. This is a cause very very dear to me and my family, they have cared for me since the first day of my life and have given me the best support possible to keep my sight in a healthy sustained state. You can’t put a price on such a valuable care and the staff there go above and beyond providing some of the best care in the world. With the money raised the hospital can continue it’s excellent treatment, care and research to enhance the lives of thousands of patients each year. I’d be humbled for any support for my Tough Mudder and more importantly the charity. The more money we can raise, the better!

Follow @Azeem_Amir99 and @sammydainty for regular updates on Twitter and Instagram. 

Donate and Tweet using #AzeemsToughMudder