I'm excited (and a little bit terrified) to announce that this October, I will be running the Royal Parks Half Marathon in aid of the Macular Society, an exceptional charity dedicated to supporting individuals affected by macular disease and funding vital research to succeed in finding a cure.

Macular Disease is a condition that affects the central part of the retina, called the macula. The macula is the part of the eye needed for central vision, when the macula deteriorates it can lead to significant loss of sight and even blindness.

Can you imagine going to bed each night wondering if that was the last you got to see of the world? Waking up every morning being thankful that it wasn't?...until the day it was. This is the reality for the 200 million macular sufferers worldwide.

In 2019, this became the reality for my dad when he was diagnosed with wet AMD an infrequent and severe strain of Macular Disease. Since his diagnosis, he has undergone injection after injection with the aim being to slow down the loosing of his sight.

As I train for my half marathon, I am inspired by the resilience, determination and strength that my Dad has shown since his diagnosis. Every step I take to complete my 21.1K is for you Dad!

I would be incredibly grateful for your support. Your donation, no matter how small, will make a significant difference in helping the Macular Society continue their incredible efforts.

Thank you for your generosity and kindness, let's make macular disease a thing of the past!

Rachel