Matt, 24, moved to Reading at the beginning of 2024. Just a few months later, in April 2025, his life changed forever when a brain tumour caused him to lose almost all of his sight. He has no light perception in his right eye, and in his left he can only see light and vague shapes. He is registered as severely sight impaired.
Understandably, the sudden loss of vision was overwhelming. Matt described the early days as a blur of confusion, with endless information to process and huge adjustments to make, all while not being able to see.
That’s when Berkshire Vision stepped in. Nurses at the Royal Berkshire Hospital referred Matthew to us, and from that moment he was supported by Cara, one of our dedicated Sight Loss Support Officers. Cara worked closely with Matt to help him come to terms with his sight loss, guiding him through the practical steps of accessing the benefits and adjustments he was entitled to, while also offering a listening ear and reassurance.
“For me, Berkshire Vision’s support was life-changing,” Matt said. “When you lose your sight, the amount of information you have to take in is overwhelming. Berkshire Vision gave me the tools and the confidence to move forward.”
And Matt truly is moving forward. He has plans to start a teacher training placement in September 2026 and will be accessing more of our services, including Technology and Equipment support and Employability, to help him achieve that dream.
But he is also determined to push himself physically. After such a challenging year, Matt has set his sights on running a marathon in the future. As a first step towards that goal, he is taking part in the Maidenhead Boundary Walk this October.
He won’t be doing it alone. Matt will be joined by a team from Berkshire Vision, staff, volunteers, and other people living with sight loss, all walking together to raise vital funds for our charity.
For Matt, this event is about more than just training for a marathon. It is a milestone in his journey, a celebration of how far he has come, and a chance to give back to the charity that has stood beside him since the day he lost his sight.
“This walk is my golden opportunity to give back,” Matt told us. “Berkshire Vision has made such a difference in my life, now I want to help make that difference for others.”
The Maidenhead Boundary Walk is a 13-mile route around the town, organised annually by the Maidenhead Rotary Club to support local causes. For Matt, it represents not just a personal milestone but also a chance to raise vital funds so that Berkshire Vision can continue to provide guidance, training, and hope to others affected by sight loss.
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If you would like to sponsor Matt and the rest of the team on the walk visit – https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/bv-boundary-walk
And it’s not too late to join us on the walk, sign up by emailing info@berkshirevision.org.uk
