Thank you for joining me in my efforts to combat Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP). It’s a battle not that I’ve chosen, but one that has chosen me. In early childhood I was diagnosed with a strain of RP with the prognosis that I will be registered blind between 30 and 40. I’m now 34.

 

I have always had night blindness which causes me to use a white cane and as my eye sight deteriorates I have more difficulty functioning in the day as lighting changes, details become difficult to distinguish and I do not see as well as I used to.

On my 35th birthday I will be on the start line of my Ironman UK challenge. After doing my first triathlon in London, 2011 - I fell in love with the sport. I said to myself that day that I wanted to be an Ironman triathlete - the gold standard level in the sport. Almost 5 years since my first ever triathlon I will be taking my place at the start line in Bolton.

My eyesight is deteriorating and every year things become a little bit harder for me. But I have never let anyone tell me I can’t do something before and I’m not about to start now. This race represents so much. It is my toughest physical challenge yet. However I am so excited, motivated and inspired. I have watched Jo Milne, Faye Maguire and so many other amazing people raise awareness of RP and blindness, this is my way of doing the same.

I am looking to raise at least £2,500 to combat RP. To spice things up a little I will be making pledges as my total reaches my target. So......

£500 – Once I receive £500 I will participate in the sport of aqua aerobics - DONE!

£1000 - I will be getting my legs waxed - DONE!

£1500 - I will be taking part in a food tasting session which will be out of my hands - DONE!

£2000 - I will run my first ever marathon in April in an Ipswich Town football kit. (I am a lifelong die-hard Norwich City fan - this will be awful!!) - APRIL 2016. Update - pledge missed so I will be wearing the Ipswich Town kit for the rest of my fundraising pledges as a punishment!

£2500 - I will be cycling down and up Boxhill in Surrey in a pair of Speedo swimming trunks and then enjoying a coffee at the top in said Speedos to prolong the humiliation - JULY 10th 2016.

£3000 - I will be taking on 'Only The Brave' obstacle race in Thetford as part of my girlfriend Loren's team! I am promised all the elements I avoid in races - mud, dirty water, obstacles and high things. To ensure ultimate humiliation I will be dressed like Rambo!! DONE!

£3500 - I will be trying out fo Surrey's Goalball team - in my new Ipswich Town kit! TBC 2016.

Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) is the name of a group of inherited eye disorders which affect the retina. RP causes permanent changes to your vision, but how much and how quickly can really vary from person to person. These retinal changes can affect your side vision, which makes it harder for you to see in dim light or the dark, and central vision, which causes difficulty with detailed activities such as reading or watching television. Sight loss is gradual and usually progresses over a period of many years. Some people with RP will become blind while some people with RP keep some vision into old age. I was diagnosed very early with the X-Strain of RP. This means my sight loss is from the peripheral inward resulting in tunnel like vision as progression reaches later stages.

New research is constantly changing our understanding of RP. My fundraising will go towards this research which will hopefully support preventative measures in the future.

As a final thank you, every person who is kind enough to sponsor me will have the chance to suggest a superhero for me to dress up as when I ride through the French Alps with Epsom Triathlon Club in June 2016. When you make you donation be sure to include your Superhero suggestion in the donation message. The most popular suggestion will be the winner.

Rob