“We’re fundraising because we want more people to know about macular disease”

A father and daughter will be running the Great North Run together to raise awareness of macular disease and funds to find a cure.

Izzy, 19, secured her charity place after discovering her dad, Trevor, had also signed up to run the half marathon between South Shields and Newcastle on behalf of the Macular Society. Trevor was diagnosed with central serous retinopathy (CSR) in 2012, and later wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Sports coaching student Izzy said: “I remember at university last year, dad called me to say his sight had got worse again and I went into the kitchen a bit upset to talk to my flatmates. It’s a struggle knowing what it’s like for him and while it might be a way off, I think he probably won’t be able to see me walk down the aisle - he won’t know what I will look like on my wedding day.”

Learning about sight loss

Trevor received his diagnosis when Izzy was around six years old, so in her memory, her dad has always had problems with his eyes. As a result she has learnt a lot about living with a person with macular disease and she wants others to understand the condition too.

She said: "I remember times where he’d be cooking in the kitchen and I’d walk in and he’d accidentally bump into me because he hadn’t seen me, so I learnt to let him know I was near him, because it would sometimes frustrate him not being able to see me.

"I want other people to understand that, because I didn’t understand it so much when I was little. Now I know he can’t see my face properly, it’s just outlines and he struggles.”

Fundraising to make a difference

While the pair have a competitive nature, Izzy is motivated by wanting to make a genuine difference to people, like her dad, living with macular disease.

“So we’re fundraising because we want more people to know about macular disease. When I tell people my dad is losing his sight, they don’t really understand what it’s like. He might have time off work to cope with his eyes but then someone will say ‘but I saw you out walking the dog okay.’ He can still do things, but he can’t see fine detail, he can’t see well enough to use the computer at work. People just don’t understand it well enough, unless you have it yourself.”

But, she shared how the competitive spirit can get the best of her dad: “We shared our fundraising link on Facebook, telling people why we’re doing the Great North Run and then dad keeps commenting on it how he’s going to beat my time. I’m like, ‘no you’re not!’”

Hopes for a brighter future

Earlier this year, Trevor opened up about how he would cry in the shower, as a way of hiding his emotions as he struggled with his changing sight. He has since had counselling from the Macular Society and shared how it has been a lifechanging experience.

For Izzy, she would love for the day to arrive where treatment would mean her dad wouldn’t have to keep facing a change in his vision.

“I knew that he did that a little bit because as a kid, getting ready for school, I’d be waiting on the landing because he’d be a while in the bathroom,” said Izzy. “Sometimes I’d see him with tears, but I didn’t know he was in there crying so that nobody else would know.

“So it would be amazing if his sight would stop getting worse. He was told it would be stable before, then it got worse with another bleed. It would just allow him time to adjust, but it’s constantly changing and that’s frustrating for him. To know he wouldn’t have to go through such a mental struggle, if his sight would stop changing, that would be amazing.”

For now, the father and daughter team are very much focused on what will be an emotional day together on Sunday, 7 September.

“Dad was the person who got me into running,” said Izzy. “We used to go running together when I was a kid so we get to do it again when the Great North Run comes around and it will be a nice thing for us to run this for the same charity.”

To donate through Trevor and Izzy's fundraiser, visit their JustGiving page.