Sense International supports people with deafblindness and their families in several countries around the world, building on the work of our parent charity Sense in the UK. We ensure that people with deafblindness can access education, healthcare and the means to earn a living, so they can thrive and live life to their full potential. We work in eight countries: Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Peru and Romania.

I have the opportunity to run the Paris Marathon on 13th April 2025 to help to raise awareness and funds to support this work so that more people with deafblindness can be reached. Sense International and our local partners identify children with deafblindness as early as possible in life so that, with the right support, they are able to thrive. We improve access to quality education and vocational training so that children and young people with deafblindness can become independent, establish a livelihood and fulfill their potential.

After training and running in the London Marathon last year I felt that I learned a lot about how running can help with both physical and mental health, even when the training is difficult and the conditions/weather are not great for it! I am training in the hope to meet the challenges to make it to the start line in Paris and then to the finish line, no matter how long it takes. I realise that running 26.2 miles/42 kilometres is not much in comparison to the challenges people with deafblindness and their families experience on a daily basis. In 15 years so far at Sense International, it has been an honour to meet and speak with people with deafblindness and other complex disabilities, their family members, teachers, health professionals and many others who are all inspirational in what they do. I will be thinking of this and everyone supporting. When I was speaking with Monica, who is deafblind, I asked what the most important things are to her and her response had a big impact. Although that conversation was about 10 years and involved translations between English-Spanish and tactile sign language then back again, I remember so clearly that Monica said most of all she loves to run!

Please take a few minutes to watch this short film in the link below which was made recently to celebrate 30 years of Sense International and the inspirational changemakers we are working with. All funds I am trying to raise towards my £1,000 target will go directly to the work of Sense International and make a big difference. The photo above is from the Sense training event before Christmas and I look forward to adding more photos to the photo gallery soon.

Thank you for reading and supporting if you can :-)