On Sunday 19th April, I am going to take on the Manchester Marathon and raise money for DeafBlind UK.

For those who know my wife, Amy, she was born profoundly deaf, but has never let this stop her from achieving anything in life. In 2024, however, she was diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) - a degenerative eye condition and again, she faced up to tackle the challenge head-on.

12-months later, she was further diagnosed with Usher's Syndrome - a condition that linked the deafness and RP together. Following the advice of the specialist, Amy informed the DVLA and, sadly, had her license revoked.

For a time, this knocked her for six, stripped away her confidence, and left me to take over driving for the entire family. But, being knocked for six isn't something that Amy does for long, and she has once again decided to take on the challenge head-on.

Now it's my turn. I have said for years that I would tackle another marathon after taking on London in 2021 and 2023, but this time it is slightly closer to home.

Deafblind UK is an incredible charity that helps many people living with deafblindness who are not receiving the support they need. We show people that there can be a life beyond deafblindness.

Whether you need some support to get back on your feet after a diagnosis, a helping hand to help you do the things you love, someone to turn to when you’re feeling low or some information, advice and guidance, Deafblind UK are on hand to help.