I believe that people’s sight matters, just like Moorfields Eye Charity.

Every six minutes, someone in the UK starts to lose their sight.

Already, over 2 million people across the country live with impaired vision - with that number set to double over the next 30 years.

That’s why Moorfields Eye Charity fund life-changing eye research to deepen our understanding of eye disease and help bring new treatments to patients faster than ever before.

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Me and my family have had a longstanding connection to Moorfields Eye Hospital, and thus Moorfields Eye Charity.

Our connection largely stems from my Grandad, Eugene Douglas, who first started seeing the effects of Macular Degeneration (MD) around the age of 65. Over a period of 6 years, his vision diminished to around 15%, and he became reliant on his peripheral vision to get through daily life.

During his time with MD, I frequently chaperoned Grandad to Moorfields Eye Hospital, which were always fun days out just spending time together up London. However, from these day out one thing I fondly remember is the fantastic work by all staff at the Hospital to understand his condition, make him feel comfortable under their care and, most importantly, prolong his eyesight as long as possible to see myself, my brothers, and the rest of his grandchildren achieve milestones that meant so much to him (first cars, graduations, weddings and the birth of great-grandchildren, to name just a few).

Sadly my Grandad passed away in June 2019 at the age of 91, something that for the first few years I struggled - and sometimes still struggle - to deal with. This was until I found running, culminating in signing up for a marathon in Lisbon in October 2023, and then raising the stakes by deciding to fundraise for Moorfields Eye Charity both in his memory, and to give back to a place (and a charity) which did so much for my Grandad and, indirectly, me and my family.

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Upon first contacting Moorfields Eye Charity in 2023, I was blown away by the gratitude and support of all the great individuals I spoke to, which gave me a strengthened affinity with the charity - something which made me want to raise as much as possible, whenever I could.

So great is this affinity, that I have agreed to run the 2026 TCS London Marathon for Moorfields Eye Charity, giving me a ridiculous 9 weeks to train and fundraise before the big day on 26th April 2026!

Appreciate the current cost of living in the UK, however anything you can give would be so gratefully received and go towards changing lives for patients at Moorfields.