Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

My name is Tony Nicholls and I am a blind person with learning difficulties who lives in a shared house in Basingstoke.   My Dad and Step Mum Lindsey help me a lot and arrange support in the house and outside so that I can live as independent a life as possible. 

I  have been going to the gym for many years and last July, Lindsey was given a leaflet advertising a trial run for the Visually Impaired at Basingstoke Parkrun and from there I started running every week with the help and support of Richard Pickard, Sharon Le Roy and a team of other keen runners who guide me on the run each week.   The team at Park Run are supporting and training me to take part in my first BIG run,  the Great South Run, which I am really excited about and I cannot thank them enough for the help and encouragement they are giving me, including extra runs as well during the build up to the run in October. Since starting I have taken 10 minutes off my original Personal Best time which I am really pleased about.

Richard describes the group below:

"In late 2015 we formed a local guide running group in the Basingstoke area, with the aim of supporting visually impaired runners (or potential runners) in the local community.  Tony has been running the weekly 5km Basingstoke Parkrun since we started the group.  He's incredibly motivated, loves running and is always keen to progress further.  The team are helping him prepare for the Great South Run, and can't wait to guide him on the day!!!!"

 During the week I attend the charity Thrive at Beech Hill, Reading, 3 days a week as my other great pleasure is gardening. I have been going to Thrive for over 10 years and by doing this run  I would like to raise money for Thrive as they are helping so many people with a variety of issues and every penny raised really does count and help everyone.  See below for more details of Thrive and what they do:

"Thrive is a charity that uses gardening to bring about positive changes to the lives of people living with disabilities or ill health, or who are isolated, disadvantaged or vulnerable.  The process is known as social and therapeutic horticulture. Tony has been coming to Thrive for ten years and gardens at the charity's head office and gardens in Beech Hill, near Reading, Berkshire.  Thrive also has gardens and helps people in London, Birmingham and Gateshead".

Thank you very much for looking at my page, I really appreciate any donations and support you can give me.

TONY