Ealing’s Eliza Reis is preparing to take on her first London Marathon later this month – running in support of a cause close to her heart. On 27 April, the 41-year-old will be raising £2,500 for Orbis, a global charity tackling avoidable blindness through its Flying Eye Hospital.
Ms Reis, who works as a client consultant for a jewellery and design company, is no stranger to long-distance running. She previously completed the Dublin Marathon in 2024, making this her second marathon.
She said: “Orbis’s mission is very close to my heart. My partner has retinitis pigmentosa so I get to witness daily how eye conditions can be limiting to people’s daily lives.”
Orbis operates the world’s only fully accredited Flying Eye Hospital – an aircraft fitted with an operating theatre, recovery room, and teaching spaces. It supports long-term programmes and trains local eye care teams in low- and middle-income countries, where 90% of vision loss is avoidable.
Fiona Lyons, Senior Fundraising Officer at Orbis, said: “We are so grateful to supporters like Eliza who are committed to helping us tackle avoidable blindness by taking on challenge events like the London Marathon – which is no small feat. The funds generated through our Marathon runners’ hard work will help to provide much needed eye care in the countries where we work, leading to a brighter future full of possibilities.”
Ms Reis said she is aiming to complete the marathon in three hours and thirty minutes.
To support her, click here.
