When two busy working mums decide in a moment of madness to sign up to the Manchester Half Marathon, for which we really don't have time to train properly, we eventually came to the realisation we'd best try and make each step of the way count.

At the same time, St Mark's was launching an appeal to extend the provision of sight-saving, and therefore life-changing, eye surgery in Rwanda. We wanted to help.

Kabgayi Eye Hospital is the only specialist hospital providing retinal eye surgery to the 13 million people of Rwanda and has only one permanent eye surgeon. St Mark’s is fundraising to double this provision and extend the work of a second specialist eye surgeon.

In one year, this would save the eyesight of 500 people otherwise at high risk of going blind. That's roughly ten more people each week who have the chance to work, watch TV, play sport, run or watch their children grow up - all things we take for granted.

Even if we can do this for one person, we'll have made a difference, so any few pounds you can spare really will have an impact.

Please do what you can and help us make that difference.