On Sunday 4 October, six members of our family are setting out to walk 13 miles around the historic Maidenhead Boundary Walk to raise money for Berkshire Vision.

For me, this one is personal.

Berkshire Vision has supported me for many years as my sight has gradually deteriorated. Losing your sight changes far more than simply how well you can see. It changes how you get around, how you work, how you socialise and, sometimes, how confident you feel doing the things you once took for granted.

Having the right people around you makes an enormous difference.

So this time, some of those people are joining me.

My mum, my brother, his wife and son, my sister and I will all be taking on the full 13 miles together to raise money for a charity that has been there for me — and continues to be there for people across Berkshire living with sight loss.

There are, admittedly, a few risks involved in putting a blind man in the middle of a 13-mile family walk.

I’m hoping they don’t leave me behind.

I’m hoping nobody leads me in completely the wrong direction.

And given that part of the route follows the Thames, I’m particularly hoping nobody lets me fall in the water.

Assuming all six of us make it back in one piece, every pound we raise will help Berkshire Vision continue providing practical and emotional support, activities and opportunities that help blind and visually impaired people build confidence, independence and connections with others.

They’ve made a real difference to me over the years. We’d love to help them do the same for somebody else.

So please sponsor us if you can.

And if you can’t, simply wish my family luck.

They’ve got 13 miles of walking ahead of them.

I’ve got 13 miles of trusting them.