Uveitis is an auto-immune disease affecting the middle layer of the eye which, if left untreated, can cause serious vision loss and, eventually, blindness. 

I was diagnosed when I was barely old enough to understand the possible consequences and life-altering effects of Uveitis. Two decades later, I still have the disease, but I also still have 20/20 vision (with the help of glasses or contacts) thanks to the work of Dr. Foster and his team at OIUF. 

I was incredibly lucky that my parents found Dr. Foster shortly after I was diagnosed. The care he has afforded me throughout the vast majority of my life has saved my sight, and the research he and OIUF do is vital to continuing to help save countless other patients from enduring severe vision loss, blindness, and other complications as a result of this awful disease. 

Currently, there is no cure for Uveitis, but OIUF works tirelessly to find ways to put patients into remission through systemic therapy, as well as to ultimately find a cure. They also train ophthalmologists from around the world to become Uveitis experts; bringing a better quality of care to patients as far afield as Africa and Australia. 

Uveitis is not a well-known disease. It is rare, and, in many cases (particularly in children), it is symptomless. It also does not have many charities to fundraise for it or raise awareness of it. But without skilled doctors and the research OIUF does to find various treatment methods, I and so many others would have very different lives. 

That's why, On July 1, my husband and I will be undertaking our third 100 km challenge walk, this time along the Cotswold Way. We will attempt to cover 63 miles in under 24 hours, both because we're obviously two severely insane people, and because fundraising for OIUF has become something so deeply important to both of us. 

Please consider donating - even just the tiniest bit - to help us help OIUF and bring them just that little step closer to ending suffering from Uveitis for good.