London Marathon Mission to Help Save International DJs Sight…

Tom Thorpe, 39, will go the distance for the UK’s main eye research charity Fight for Sight, at the Virgin London Marathon, on Sunday 24 April.

Tom will be joining thousands of runners to take on the gruelling 26.2 mile challenge across London city. His main inspiration is his friend of over a decade international DJ Laura Jones.

Laura was born in Kilton, Nottinghamshire, and grew up in Penistone, South Yorkshire, but is now based in Leeds. She has forged a successful DJ career, which has seen her play across the world and plays regularly in Ibiza. Laura was diagnosed with Stargardt’s disease, a rare inherited condition, in 2008 and often wears her trademark sunglasses whilst dj-ing. The condition causes the light-sensitive cells in the retina to deteriorate, resulting in central vision loss and in some cases, total blindness. There is currently no cure for the disease, so funding for continued research into this area is crucial if developments are to be made.

Tom is part of a friendship group that is going the extra mile to help support Laura and her fight for sight. He will be the fourth person hoping to complete the London Marathon, Laura has previously seen friends Hayley Nunn, Gill Dalton and Lucy Taylor cross the finish line. The group hope to collectively raise £50k for the charity within a 10 year period.

Tom, also a DJ and club promoter, originally from Huddersfield but now based in London, will be completing his first marathon said: “I wanted to run the London Marathon having witnessed my amazing friend Laura’s struggle with her sight. If I can help her and anyone else diagnosed with the condition by raising money for the charity then it would be a pleasure and an honour.”

The condition currently affects Laura’s central sight and she has 30% of her visual field remaining added: “Despite living with the condition for the past eight years – I have been fortunate enough to be able to continue to DJ. I’m incredibly lucky to have such supportive friends who are going the extra mile and I’m glad we are able to support the charity. Best of luck to Tom I will be supporting you every step of the way.”

To support Tom and Laura’s and Fight for Sight, please visit http://www.justgiving.com/Tom-Thorpe1.

For further information on Fight for Sight please visit www.fightforsight.org.uk or call 020 7264 3900.