The Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB)

London Marathon 2026

Phil Harrison

Phil Harrison

My Story

I am running, with my guide runner Julia Tysoe, the 2026 TCS London Marathon in aid of Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB), the UK's leading sight loss charity and the largest community of blind and partially sighted people. 

I have had sight issues since 1976, when my left eye was injured during a youth club rounders tournament in Bristol. I got hit by a bat. Ouch! It gave me a David Bowie eye so my right eye eye did all the work until 2016 when a tumour was found in my right eye. The tumour was successfully treated with proton beam therapy but the optic nerve was zapped in the process . My sight gradually deteriorated and in 2018 I was registered severely sight impaired. I got a lot of support from the NHS and the RNIB.

During lockdown, my wife connected me with a Guide Runner called Dani who gave me the confidence to go out running again. When Dani left the area to go to University, I connected with other Guide Runners at my local park run at Torbay Velopark parkrun in Paignton. Since 2021 I have been supported by a number of Guide Runners not only at my local Parkrun but at 10 K and half marathon events in Torbay and Bristol. Special thanks go to Neil, Sarah, Julia and Yvonne who guided me at these events and gave me the confidence to enter more events. I also gets loads of support and encouragement from the run directors and volunteers at my local Parkrun at Torbay Velopark, Paignton.

I have always wanted to run the London Marathon and I am really grateful to have the opportunity to run for team RNIB at next year's event with my Guide Runner Julia. This will be my first ever marathon, but I am feeling confident about finishing as Julia has run it before and we will be putting in a lot of training before next April.

Running for Team RNIB is special for me and I have set myself the target to raise £2,500, so any donations will be gratefully appreciated.
Here is some information from RNIB:

Everyday 250 people begin to lose their sight in the UK. RNIB's focus is to create a world where there are no barriers to people with sight loss.

Please support me as I take on this huge challenge for RNIB!

Here are just some of the ways your donation could help:

- £50 could help someone coming to terms with sight loss by providing emotional support and practical guidance through our Sight Loss Advice Service, both on the telephone and online.

- £35 could help provide support and advice to a parent of a child with vision impairment, who has contacted RNIB for the first time. 

- £25 could help produce a lively and interactive technology show on RNIB's Connect Radio, demonstrating how an app or device can help people with sight loss communicate easily with family and friends, or navigate their way around town.

Thanks for reading this. 

cheers, Phil

The Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB)

Raising for:

The Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB)
152%

Funded

  • Target
    £2,500
  • Raised so far
    £3,800
  • Number of donors
    138

My Story

I am running, with my guide runner Julia Tysoe, the 2026 TCS London Marathon in aid of Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB), the UK's leading sight loss charity and the largest community of blind and partially sighted people. 

I have had sight issues since 1976, when my left eye was injured during a youth club rounders tournament in Bristol. I got hit by a bat. Ouch! It gave me a David Bowie eye so my right eye eye did all the work until 2016 when a tumour was found in my right eye. The tumour was successfully treated with proton beam therapy but the optic nerve was zapped in the process . My sight gradually deteriorated and in 2018 I was registered severely sight impaired. I got a lot of support from the NHS and the RNIB.

During lockdown, my wife connected me with a Guide Runner called Dani who gave me the confidence to go out running again. When Dani left the area to go to University, I connected with other Guide Runners at my local park run at Torbay Velopark parkrun in Paignton. Since 2021 I have been supported by a number of Guide Runners not only at my local Parkrun but at 10 K and half marathon events in Torbay and Bristol. Special thanks go to Neil, Sarah, Julia and Yvonne who guided me at these events and gave me the confidence to enter more events. I also gets loads of support and encouragement from the run directors and volunteers at my local Parkrun at Torbay Velopark, Paignton.

I have always wanted to run the London Marathon and I am really grateful to have the opportunity to run for team RNIB at next year's event with my Guide Runner Julia. This will be my first ever marathon, but I am feeling confident about finishing as Julia has run it before and we will be putting in a lot of training before next April.

Running for Team RNIB is special for me and I have set myself the target to raise £2,500, so any donations will be gratefully appreciated.
Here is some information from RNIB:

Everyday 250 people begin to lose their sight in the UK. RNIB's focus is to create a world where there are no barriers to people with sight loss.

Please support me as I take on this huge challenge for RNIB!

Here are just some of the ways your donation could help:

- £50 could help someone coming to terms with sight loss by providing emotional support and practical guidance through our Sight Loss Advice Service, both on the telephone and online.

- £35 could help provide support and advice to a parent of a child with vision impairment, who has contacted RNIB for the first time. 

- £25 could help produce a lively and interactive technology show on RNIB's Connect Radio, demonstrating how an app or device can help people with sight loss communicate easily with family and friends, or navigate their way around town.

Thanks for reading this. 

cheers, Phil

Phil Harrison is fundraising towards