I Run Because – By Angela Woon
“You’re slowly going blind, and there’s no cure or treatment.”
Hearing those words from my doctor in early 2019 was devastating. Just months earlier, I had run the Chicago Marathon; how could this be happening? A million thoughts raced through my mind: Would I still be able to run? Travel? Live and work independently?
I was diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP), a degenerative eye condition that causes progressive vision loss. A person with normal vision sees about 180 degrees without moving their head. Mine is about 25 degrees in one eye and 20 in the other—like looking at the world through the tube of a toilet roll. I’m only five degrees away from the U.S. definition of legal blindness. I also struggle to see starting at twilight, and one of the hardest things to accept is that I can no longer see the stars at night.
The signs were there long before I knew what was happening. Friends used to joke about my clumsiness—bumping into furniture or tripping over curbs, calling it “pulling an Angela.” At the time, I laughed along. I had no idea it was because my vision was slowly closing in.
When I first got the diagnosis, the reality hit like a freight train. Doctors weren’t helpful; they just told me I was going blind, there was no cure, no treatment. “See you next year.” That was it. No resources. No guidance. No empathy.
I thought going blind meant losing everything, my independence, my dreams, my sense of self. For a while, I’d wake up every morning slowly opening my eyes, and wonder if today would be the day my world went dark.
But I’ve learned something important since then: while sight loss changes your life, it doesn’t have to diminish it. With the right tools, support, and community, it’s possible not just to adapt, but to thrive.
Running has been my anchor through all of this. Even as my vision continues to narrow, running reminds me that I am still capable, still resilient, still me. And now, I want to use running for something bigger.
That’s why I’m running the TCS London Marathon in April 2026 for LOOK UK—a charity that empowers visually impaired young people and their families through peer mentoring, family support, and accessible events. Though I live outside the UK (I was born there!), my story reflects a global truth: blind and visually impaired people everywhere face barriers that are made harder by a lack of support. LOOK provides the connection, mentorship, and community that I wish I had when I was first diagnosed.
Ironically, before my diagnosis, I had spent time volunteering—reading to blind people and even signing up to be a running guide. I never imagined I’d one day be the one needing that help. But here I am, and I know firsthand how life-changing that support can be.
Every contribution, whether in ringgit, pounds, or dollars, makes a difference. Please donate today and be part of a global message: that losing sight doesn’t mean losing hope, and that no one navigating sight loss has to do it alone.
Thank you for taking the time to read my story – please consider supporting me and LOOK UK here.
Huge thanks to Angela for sharing her journey with the LOOK community. Read more about our incredible 2026 London Marathon runners here.