Having been stopped once by a Covid cancellation and more recently from a broken jaw two weeks before the event, I am once again training to complete the Hackney Half Marathon in May for RNIB (Royal National Institute of Blind People).

RNIB aren't the first charity that usually comes to my mind when I think fundraising despite the amazing support they offer to over 2 million people in the UK suffering sight loss, but there is a back story to this so please, hear me out.

On 1st April 2020, just after we'd entered Lockdown 1.0, my Grandad George (who held RNIB very close to his heart) passed away. He was absolutely my hero. For those of you unfortunate enough not to know him, he was an incredibly kind, upbeat and generous man. He spent the best part of the last 30 years in a wheelchair with no use of his legs due to a problem with his spine that got progressively worse, and only had sight in one eye caused by contracting measles at a young age. And yet he radiated positivity, would help anyone with anything he could, and saw the good in everyone. He did not let his hardships get in the way of anything, or use them as excuses, and thought that he was no less fortunate than anyone else. He was instantly recognisable around his home town of Wilmslow, Cheshire, rarely seen without a Manchester City badge somewhere on his clothing (the picture above is from his only ever trip to Central London, at the FA Cup Final in 2011). 

As a popular man around Wilmslow and further afield, in any normal circumstances there would have been close to 100 people at his funeral. However due to the Covid restrictions at the time it was limited to 10 immediate family members. This meant that there was no collection for charity, which would have been for RNIB.

So at the third time of asking, the main reason for me doing this Half Marathon is in memory of my Grandad, to have the collection that he never got to have, so that he can support a charity that meant so much to him one final time. Any support in doing that would be greatly appreciated.

'Every day 250 people in the UK start losing their sight. With your help, we can be there when people need us most, support independent living, create an inclusive society and prevent avoidable sight loss. Every pound you raise will help create a future where sight loss is no longer a barrier.'