In October 2022, my mother Nicola and I will be undertaking our first Ultra Marathon - 250km across the desert in Jordan. We will be attempting to run 6 marathons in 5 days in aid of a charity very close to our heart - Guide Dogs. Simultaneously,  3100 miles away, my sister Emily will be running the London Marathon.  Between the 3 of us,  we are aiming to complete 13 marathons,  all in aid of a fantastic cause. 

Almost two million people in the UK are living with sight loss that has a significant impact on their daily lives. Of those, around 180,000 rarely leave their homes alone and lead lonely, isolated lives. Guide Dogs works for a world where people with sight loss are never left out of life, for a world where being blind or partially sighted is not what defines you. A world with enough support to make the challenges of sight loss no barrier to fulfilling hopes and dreams. 

At the age of 19, during his first year at Newcastle University, my father lost his eyesight entirely as a result of a congental condition called Retinitis Pigmentosa. He then spent a year learning Braille before returning to University to complete a Law Degree, going on to become the first blind person ever to graduate with a Masters in Business administration from Cranfield School of Management. He graduated alongside his first guide dog, Folly. Folly was a huge part of his life and, was even an honourary bridedog at my parents wedding. 

Many of you will know of or, had the pleasure of meeting Storm, my fathers second guide dog - one of the happiest, most intelligent and loving dogs I’ve ever known. For 10 years, up until his retirement in 2020, Storm made an incredible difference to my fathers working life in London, as well as having a hugely positive impact on all those lucky enough to know him! For the last 2 years,  he lived out his retirement taking great joy in all the little things guide dogs aren't meant to do -  stealing burgers,  rolling in fox sh*t and drooling everywhere he went. 

As some of you will know,  we devastatingly had to say goodbye to Storm last week after a short illness.  Now everyone thinks their dog is the best, but Storm but was truly one of a kind. He lit up any room he entered. Not a single person could pass him in the street,  on the tube or in the office without smiling,  even those who weren't 'dog people' .

The cost of each guide dog across their lifetime amounts to around £55,000. With the demand for guide dogs higher than the number of dogs available, vital funds are required in order to provide for the people in need of the assistance that guide dogs provide.

From your elderly neighbour, to businesspeople in cities, to children attending school, visual impairment is more common than many people realise. Guide Dogs are committed to providing people with sight loss with the support they need to be able to move around safely and confidently, to get out of their homes and be able to live life the way they choose.

Any donations will be gratefully received x