Hi everyone,

I’m cycling from London to Paris over 4 days to raise money for Stargardt’s Connected, a small charity that is very close to my heart.

It was set up by a dear friend of mine after her world was turned upside down when she discovered that her 7‑year‑old son was diagnosed with Stargardt’s disease, a rare genetic eye disease causing progressive sight loss. Being told there was no treatment or cure for the condition was heartbreaking and really scary. Instead of giving up, she chose to turn that fear into something positive

She created the charity to raise awareness, support families and individuals affected, and help fund much-needed research.

Around 7,000 people in the UK are living with Stargardt’s, and support networks like this are incredibly important. Stargardt’s Connected is the only UK charity solely dedicated to Stargardt’s disease.

This is a small, grassroots charity and every donation, no matter the size, truly makes a difference.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this.

Rita XXX