On Sunday 21st of April 2024 I will be running the London Marathon for the Royal Society for Blind Children (RSBC). Thank you for sponsoring me in taking on 26.2 miles for this worthy cause!

On a personal note, having a brother who is blind means I have seen first hand some of the incredible work done by charities that support those who live with a visual impairment. Completing the London Marathon is a bucket list item of mine, and being able to support such a great cause at the same time will be extra motivation for the cold, dark, early (and let’s face it, rainy) mornings as I train for the big day, and of course for the race itself. 

Some statistics:

Today there are an estimated 44,000 blind and partially sighted children in England and Wales. 

Each day, four more children will be diagnosed with sight loss.

Blind and partially sighted children are twice as likely to be bullied. 

One in three will suffer from depression and other mental health issues. 

90% will never have a long-term job. 

Two thirds of blind people are living on or below the poverty line. 

RSBC is working to change all of this. RSBC help blind children to realise their potential. They run a family support service, working with families to help provide the best possible environment for their child to grow and thrive. They also help blind children to develop confidence and independence through a range of programmes and activities, building amazing friendships.

RSBC runs a specialist further education college for vision impaired young  people aged 16-25, which aims to equip them with the skills and attributes needed to succeed in higher education and employment, as well as to live independently.