26.2 miles for what reason…?

Last year I decided to sign up to run the london marathon for the RNIB. But why?

I’m running the marathon for the 3 yr old little girl who was diagnosed with Nystagmus. I’m running the marathon for the 7 yr old girl who was told she could possibly never drive. I’m running the marathon for the 12 yr old who was told by people  that she was faking a disability to get out of sports. I’m running the marathon for the 18 yr old who lost her job, because she couldn’t work in her original field.

I am the 3yr old, the 7 yr old, the 12 yr old and the 18 yr old. I’m the girl and now the woman, who wants to change the future for people with a similar story. And unfortunately many have a similar story. 

To many children go to school and get bullied for being visually impaired. To many adults are discriminated against for their disability. And to many people have to suffer everyday with the side effects of the disability that no one understands.

Thankfully, charities like the RNIB strive to reduce the struggles that individuals with a visual impairment face. They challenge the barriers put up to prevent VI people from being employed. They help the 3 yr old, the 7 yr old, the 12 yr old and the 18 yr old, to face the battles that life has for an individual with a visual impairment. 

And that is why I’m running the marathon. To help people with a visual impairment, not have to face what I had to face.

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Thanks for your support with my London Marathon challenge! Every day, 250 people in the UK start losing their sight. Too many still face isolation and depression, unable to achieve their potential in a world that blocks their way. RNIB wont stop until every last psychological and physical barrier has gone for good.With your help, RNIB can be there when people need them most, support independent living, create an inclusive society and prevent avoidable sight loss. Every pound you donate is helping create a future where sight loss is no longer a barrier.£20 could help someone feel more confident about living with sight loss, with personalised support from our expert Sight Loss Advice Service. £47 could help someone feel more positive about the future after losing their sight, through a one-to-one phone or online counselling session. £2,500 could make a new adult book available in our Talking Books library, enabling a person with sight loss to enjoy the latest best seller.