Carl Harper from Tiptree, Essex is running the London Marathon 2023 to raise awareness for deafblindness and fundraise for Deafblind UK.
Carl was inspired to run for Deafblind UK after seeing how important our services are to the people we support, especially our Befriending service. “I found Jean’s story very moving,” he said. “I had never really appreciated before how lonely people living with low vision and hearing loss can become, and the difference volunteers can make in reducing loneliness.”
“I’d never heard of Deafblind UK before, so it was lovely to find them as one of the unsung heroes,” he continued. “I’ve always been inspired by those working with the deaf and am fascinated by sign language.”
Carl, who works in sales, is a keen runner and cyclist. This will be his first marathon, and he’s tackling his training schedule with enthusiasm: “I wanted to run this iconic event as my first marathon because I like a challenge, and I’m very focused on my goals.”
This determination extends to Carl’s fundraising efforts – which his whole family are supporting. “My family, friends and work are all on board. It’s great to have their support,” he said. Carl is also active on social media and documenting his training journey.
We’re so excited to have Carl on the team and look forward to sharing his journey with you over the coming months.
You can show your support by making a donation on Carl’s JustGiving page.
