I am a nurse who stepped onto the frontline to fight the Covid-19 pandemic and realised that my unhealthy lifestyle was putting me at risk if I contracted the virus.  In January 2021 I started eating better and, for the first time in a long time, I started running.  Now I can run...a long way!  

In May this year I went for my 2 yearly eye test.  I knew my sight had deteriorated during lockdown.  Little did I expect that I would be diagnosed with early onset age related macular degeneration and it has no cure!

Every day, around 300 people are diagnosed with macular disease. It’s the biggest cause of sight loss in the UK.  Macular disease is cruel and isolating. It steals your sight, your independence, and your ability to do the things you love.

It can affect people of any age — even children — but not enough is known about why, and there is still no cure.  There is only one way to Beat Macular Disease for good. We must fund much more research now, until we find a cure, or find treatments that stop it in its tracks.

In June Elaine (coach! and wife!) talked me into doing the Scottish Half Marathon after doing 10k...at a stroll!  When I looked on the website I realised I could raise some money for the Macular Society whilst achieving something I didn't think would be achievable back in January.  The pandemic has hit charities hard and the money they have available to fund critical research has been hit hard.  They have difficult decisions to make over the next few years.  The Society have promised that any money I raise will go straight into their research funds.  

Please help me to not just reach my funding target but smash it!

Yours gratefully,

Scott