A MAN has signed up to do the Great North Run blindfolded to raise money for an eye charity after watching his mum lose her sight.

Alex Cole, 37, from Durham, is doing a series of runs in the lead up to the world’s biggest half marathon to raise money for eye charity Fight for Sight.

He is doing the challenge for his mother Jane Cole, 70, who was diagnosed with an eye condition called age-related macular degeneration [AMD] in 2009.

Mr Cole, who works for PolyPhotonix, a health technology firm developing eye treatments, said: “Witnessing my mam slowly losing her sight and speaking to the patients through my work at PolyPhotonix – highlights the devastating impact sight loss can have on someone’s life.”

He is also doing the Liverpool Rock n’ Roll 5k on May 28, the Liverpool Rock n’ Roll half marathon and fast mile on 29 May and the Durham coastal half marathon on June 5.

To donate visit www.justgiving.com/Alex-Cole6