Bridie and Cheryl Starr are running the TCS London Marathon, returning on Sunday 21 April, for the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB).
Bridie, 36, and Cheryl, 42, from Essex have been inspired to join Team RNIB in aid of Bridie’s daughter, Mia, who lost her sight at 16 months old in 2021 because of a collection of tumours along her optic pathway.
They will be running to support the charity’s mission of creating an inclusive world and to help raise awareness of the challenges blind and partially sighted people face every day.
Mia, now 3 years old, was diagnosed with a genetic condition called neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), which led the doctors to run scans and tests, and that’s when the tumours were found. Mum Bridie said Mia lost her sight overnight and was on chemotherapy for eighteen months.
Bridie, an Intensive Care Unit Nurse, said: “I want Mia to grow up in a world where she can access, and experience things, just like everyone else. That’s why we’ve chosen to run for RNIB because the charity wants to create a world without barriers for people living with sight loss. It’s a cause very close to our hearts. Any donations people make will go a long way towards making that a possibility.”
Bridie and Cheryl have been lightly training for the London Marathon in between parenting, which they share has been challenging. However, the pair will be by each other’s side on the big day to help children and adults with a vision impairment, like Mia, get the support they need to thrive.
Cheryl, Change Analyst at Specsavers, and Mia’s aunty said: “I had such a good routine going but sometimes life happens in-between but that isn’t going to stop us, Mia is our motivation. I’m planning to do some long runs over the next few weeks to get me back on track.”
Together, the pair have raised over £4,000 for RNIB, beating their fundraising goal thanks to friends and family, who have been supporting tirelessly and will also be there on race day to cheer Bridie and Cheryl on.
Chris Perrin, RNIB’s Head of Supporter Led Fundraising, said: “Running a marathon is undoubtedly a huge challenge for anyone so we are very grateful to have Bridie and Cheryl join Team RNIB this year for the TCS London Marathon. The funds raised will help the charity support the estimated two million people living with sight loss in the UK.”
To sponsor Bridie please donate at: https://www.justgiving.com/page/bridie-starr-1691738186439
To sponsor Cheryl, please donate at: https://www.justgiving.com/page/cheryl-starr-1693857208612
