As many of you will already know, I am indebted to the eye department for saving my sight. Having suffered from a fairly rare condition called Fuch's Dystrophy, I was the recipient of donor grafts using the intricate surgical technique of DSAEK. Without the exceptional skills of a now retired surgeon, his colleagues and staff, I would not be able to consider fundraising. To those who gift their eyes and those who have supported me for over a decade at the hospital, I say a big thank you as it has been transformational. Periodically, I still have hiccups, but the hospital continue to serve my needs with extraordinary kindness. 

Now in this current crisis, I am regarded as a "vulnerable adult" being 75 and asthmatic! I therefore find myself in lock down for twelve weeks. 

What could I do during that time?  I thought it would be the ideal opportunity to do all the things I find difficult to achieve in  normal times. That includes reading, writing, playing the piano and learning French.

As for exercise I would set up a gym inside and tend my large garden.  My one hour of exercise per day could be cycling,which I normally enjoy because it is good for my two replacement knees. However my family suggested I might fall off and end up in A and E and that is not a good place to be at present!

What  therefore could I do?  A walk around the bungalow in circles would have to suffice.. On about the tenth day, I suddenly thought that this could be my fund raising activity for this year.  So now 35 days into the lockdown I get many odd looks as I do this activity, but it has also been a chance to talk to friends from a safe distance. However they do have  to wait until I have finished my schedule.I use the Strava App to record my statistics, but I laughed out loud, when the App was obviously fed up with my going round and round, so they suggested new and varied local routes that I might like to try...……..

All being well and touching wood, I aim to cover 5550 laps in 111 days which is the time that we have been asked to stay at home. This equates to approximately 167miles. I say approximately, as my counting goes awry at times, but it is averaging out at 1.5 miles per day. By now it  is a combination of walking and jogging and already my time is improving.

At this time of crisis, I am well aware that looking after the people on the front line who are doing an unbelievable job is top priority, but if you can, my fundraising is still for the NHS, just another department who do incredible work.

Best wishes and thanks

Mary