Nathan's fundraising page

Nathan Edge guide dog walk · 28 September 2013
Our Next Adventure... (Saturday 26th April 2014)
Thank you for visiting my JustGiving page!
My incredible Uncle Tony Gigg and John Hart will be taking on the challenge of 14Km run and obstacle race through mud and water etc.
The challenge will take place at Holmesfield on 13th April 2014.
Please show your support for Tony and John by Sponsoring them.
On the 28th September 2013 I was joined by a group of fellow Mansfield Town supporters, family and friends on a 15 mile walk from Mansfield Town FC to Chesterfield FC. We set off from The One Call Stadium in the early hours of the morning to arrive in Chesterfield at 12:00pm, a hour before kick-off. Thankfully the weather played nicely and the fresh morning soon turned to a lovely, sunny day. Despite having a few aching joints and muscles, I felt great knowing we had done it!
I have to admit, I felt quite emotional at the ground. Not only did I have that horrible feeling in my stomach leading up to a big rival game, I couldn't believe the reception we recieved. Around 20 minutes before kick-off, a small group of us led a lap of honour and the applause and messages from the ground felt special. Though no words can describe how I felt when we reached the away end and I was standing infront of the Stags fans. I had already had most incredible week leading up to this day. Just three weeks before, I recieved a call from Guide Dogs informing me that they may have a match for me! Two weeks later, I was in Nottingham on my training with my potential first guide dog Hudson! The training was going great, the fundraising was going great, everything was falling perfectly in to place for the future, now there's just one thing that's missing... A win over our rivals. Could it happen?
Well... I guess it was written in the stars as win is what we did!
Wondering why we did this?
Well, my name is Nathan and I am 19 years old. I woke up one morning aged five and out of the blue, my left knee was locked at a 90 degree angle. Various tests showed I had Juvenile Chronic Arthritis. Many hospital appointments and tests later, all of which seem to be a blur in my memory, but In a nutshell I was diagnosed to have Uveitis, the inflammation from the back of my knee moved to the back of my eye. As a result I am left with very little sight which is progressively deteriorating which resulted in mine and my families’ world being turned upside down.
My Dad made one of his best decisions when I was young by keeping me in main stream education and against all the odds I achieved results above everyone’s expectations. This was a very proud moment in my life.
One of my biggest passions is football. I’ve been a season ticket holder at Mansfield Town football club for 12 years now following the club both home and away even though I can’t even see what is happening on the pitch.
I am now a registered volunteer at Guide Dogs as I want to be a part of the amazing work they do. I'm currently going through the realisation of feeling for myself the difference a guide dog can make to my life, though there are still many people on the waiting list and it's still the reality that someone loses their sight every hour. Guide Dogs are 100% funded by your donations! It costs a lot of money for each guide dog but every penny is worth it!
Please dig deep and donate and please share this page with your friends and family.
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