Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

Hi All – as you know, I don’t see very well!  It’s a genetic eye condition which, unfortunately, my sister Sophie has too. 

I started to notice my sight wasn’t right at the age of about seven.  But in the early 80s (yes, I'm that old but I know, I don't look it!) there was very little known about what was wrong and some doctors even thought I was making it up, looking for attention!  Lovely!!

Then, once it was conceded that I couldn’t see like everyone else, there were a variety of misdiagnoses until, aged 14, the doctors settled on Stargardt’s Disease.  Very, very, very simply put, I cannot see straight ahead very well at all.  My peripheral vision is ok, though…not great, but ok…

As time has progressed my vision has unfortunately worsened which had been impacting my life.  But in 2018 I was blessed with a fabulous addition to my family – my guide dog, Jonah from the Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind in Cork.  He has transformed my life – giving me confidence to go almost anywhere and ensuring I continue to live as independent a life as possible.

So I‘d love if you could help me give something back to the Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind for that new lease of life I now enjoy.  With my long-suffering tandem cycling partner (!), Stephen Surdival, I am doing this Paris2Nice cycle in September and any donation would be appreciated.

And yes, Stephen will be doing the steering! 

Thank you all in advance.