A WOMAN who started her own soap-making company despite losing her sight is taking part in a special public event showcasing the ingenuity and expertise of those who make and invent this weekend.

Alex Mackie, 26, from Durham, better known as The Blind Soapmaker, was diagnosed with rod cone dystrophy at seven years old.

She was also diagnosed with kidney disease at age five and at 17 underwent a successful kidney transplant with her mum, Alison Mackie, as the donor.

Despite the health challenges she has faced, Ms Mackie went back to college after recovering from surgery and then to University in York.

After graduation she was very keen to work despite the difficulties that blind and partially sighted people have securing jobs in a workplace.

She realised that self-employment was her best route into work and, inspired by The York Soap Company, and the fact that soap making is a business she could start from home, she learned the process and then set up her online business two years ago.

Ms Mackie’s soaps are luxury, gift market products and she has created her own unique sheep mould for cute looking soaps and also makes other animal shaped soaps as well as hand cream, hand gel, bath bombs and other products.

She can make up to 100 soaps a day and her aim is to continue to grow her business with an ambition to be able to employ others and offer local jobs.

This weekend, Ms Mackie will be one of hundreds of people from around the world will be heading to Life Science Centre in Newcastle for its annual festival of crafting, coding and inventing.

The Maker Faire UK 2018, which will be held on Saturday and Sunday will bring together more than 450 ‘makers’ to showcase their creative talents to visitors.

Ms Mackie said: “I’m really looking forward to Maker Faire UK and meeting other makers and members of the public throughout the weekend.

“I was pleased to be approached by Life Science Centre to take part as it’s a great showcase for my products at a time when my business is starting to grow.

“Only one in ten blind people in the UK are employed in the workplace, so self-employment is a great practical solution for me to build a career.”

Tickets are £8 for adults and £6 for children. For further information visit the website MakerFaire.com