👋 On 7th May 2023, I will be running in the Great Birmingham Half Marathon (for the first time!) to support and raise awareness for Sandwell Visually Impaired (SVI).

I have been supporting SVI since 2019. After searching through my local Bureau for community based work that I could get involved in, I was paired to support Graham Price, co-founder and member of Sandwell Visually Impaired (see photo, in gallery). Graham's life was altered by complete sight loss. From my initial encounter with Graham, I was incredibly inspired by him. He is committed to helping the community around him; SVI is a cause that he has dedicated a lot of his time to. During our first meeting together, my perspective on life had shifted - I wanted to be able to get involved and support this amazing cause even more. After speaking with Graham, he introduced me to SVI.

SVI is a user-led, not-for-profit charity which is run and managed by blind and Visually Impaired (VI) people who provide information and support to anyone who is affected by sight loss. This cause help over 1400 people who are registered as Blind, to be as independent as possible, as well as assisting in overcoming the challenges of sight loss. Whether offering support to families, running events and activities such as: facilitated sessions at the gym, swimming, dancing and walking in the local community (all at no cost to the service user) or joining consultations to ensure that the needs and concerns of visually impaired people in Sandwell are heard in local service planning, SVI consistently provides a much needed service.

The money that I raise will go directly to the charity to use where it is needed most and will also help in raising more awareness for the important and hard work that SVI strive to deliver.

A special thank you to my Employer Redbrain Ltd who will kindly match the overall donations raised towards this cause, once I reach my target (so anything above target is a massive bonus!).

Another massive thank you for anything that you can donate. Your contribution (however big or small) will go very far in making a genuine impact to those impacted by sight loss within Sandwell.

Note: this is my first attempt at running 13.1 miles (equivalent to 21km). You can track my progress (up until the lead up) via this page :-)