An Isle of Wight man is set to run the London Marathon on 27 April to raise money for Blind Veterans UK, the national charity for vision impaired ex-Service men and women.
Osman Cole, 29, is employed by Blind Veterans UK and works in the customer care team regularly speaking with the blind veterans supported by the charity. which has inspired him to take on this challenge.
Osman says:
“I’d been at the charity for almost a year when I decided to take on this challenge.
"In my role I often hear the powerful stories of grit and determination from our blind veterans which inspired me to take on this challenge and do something for them.
“Last year I was diagnosed with a heart condition causing irregular heartbeats.
"After two sever flare ups in May and June rendering first the right, and then the left, side of my body extremely debilitated, I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.
"MS is a lifelong condition where the immune system mistakenly attacks parts of the brain and causes tiredness and problems with walking and balance.
“At first I couldn’t walk for longer than two minutes but I’ve been building my strength and I’ve got my fitness back to where it was. I want to show people that you can overcome the symptoms and I wasn’t about to let it beat me.
“I recently met one of the blind veterans who is supported by the charity and lives on the Isle of Wight; he’s not much older than me.
"I have learnt how the charity has supported him and heard about his own walking challenge that he has completed.
"He has given me the extra motivation I need to drag myself out on training runs during the winter months.”
Not content with the challenge of the London Marathon, Osman has also taken on the Southampton Half Marathon this year and the Barcelona Marathon, which he completed in three hours and 42 minutes.
He will also be taking on the Great North Run.
He added:
“I’ve got no social life at the moment. I’ve been training since August and I go for a long run on Sundays and hilly runs on Tuesdays.
"I’d like to complete the London Marathon in three hours and 40 minutes and hopefully I’ll raise lots of money to support our blind veterans while I am doing it.”
Osman is hoping to raise £2,000 for Blind Veterans UK. If you would like to help Osman reach his target, please visit his fundraising page.
If you are inspired by Osman and would like to sign up for the 2026 London Marathon for Blind Veterans UK, visit the charity’s website.
Blind Veterans UK supports thousands of blind veterans across the country, but knows there are many thousands more who still need its support to rebuild their lives after sight loss.
If you, or someone you know, served in the Armed Forces, including National Service, and are now struggling with sight loss, then get in touch.
Call 0800 389 7979 or visit: blindveterans.org.uk/gethelp
תגובות