I first found out I had Vitiligo in my teens when I noticed a few white patches which just burnt in the sun, then over the years the patches of white skin progressively spread. I’m a lot more fortunate than a lot of Vitiligo sufferers insomuch as I’m fair skinned so you’d never really notice I had it, apart from the summer months when the non-Vitiligo skin tans and contrasts the white patches so much more. You end up having this love/hate relationship with winter and summer. I love the summer heat but I hate having to wear ultra high factor or long sleeves and trousers, and then in the winter, I don’t like the cold but am thankful for it, as I can cover up completely.

Whilst Vitiligo isn’t a life threatening condition, it causes great psychological distress especially where the effects of depigmentation are so much more pronounced in darker skinned people. There isn’t yet a known cure, although there are treatments which can alleviate or reverse the depigmentation but the long-term results aren’t always stable; the patches can and often do return.

This is the 25^th anniversary year of the Vitiligo Society and we’re looking to use my marathon run as a significant fund-raising opportunity. We’re not a big charity but the information and support that we can offer to sufferers both existing and newly diagnosed is vital to help people learn to cope and come to terms with the condition.

I know there’s a lot of other demands on your money these days but please give a little to the Vitiligo Society.

Many, many thanks. Bob