Hi I’m Ben, aged 9. I was born with an extremely rare genetic disorder called Nance Horan Syndrome. I have several disabilities, but mainly I have always been Severely Visually Impaired (legally blind) in both eyes so I have a blue badge.

I want to do a sponsored swim for my local Bishop’s Stortford Food Bank. I learnt to swim with my teacher, Laura - my swimming bestie🩵💙 when I was 4 years old. She taught me to swim independently through touch and voice. We trust each other in water so much. Thank you Laura, you are an absolute super star! 🤩

When I swim, I do not wear contact lenses nor glasses, so I rely on sound and touch. In a swimming pool, I can see light but I am aphakic; this means there are no lenses within my eyes. Laura and my family (especially my fabulous big sisters, Jess and Alice) have helped me learn how to swim by touch, and modelling the different strokes.

I have had many eye operations since birth at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, (the Eye Clinic 3 there have been absolutely brilliant 🤩) and I’m also under care of Great Ormond Street Hospital and Moorfields Eye Hospital in London. I am so very grateful to all the doctors, nurses and helpers who continue to look after me, also those at Princess Alexandra Harlow, QE11 and Hertford Hospital. All my medical teams are amazing and my family and I are so grateful for their incredible skilled support. It is unclear what vision I will have in the future, but I am taking things one day at a time.

If it is possible, please could you donate some money towards our local town food bank - Bishop’s Stortford Food Bank - for my sponsored swim? I’ve been practising a lot and hope I could do 30 lengths of the big pool in an hour.

I have been helped by so many amazing people in our local NHS and I really want to help other people in our own community. Everyone needs help sometimes, so I really hope you can help lend your support. Thank you so much.

I can’t wait to start my sponsored swim on 21st May and I promise I will try my best!

Love and thanks from Ben x

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