Jim Humble runs for Sightsavers to support eye care

Jim Humble from the United Kingdom won a place to run the full marathon in the Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon 2012 to support eye care.

Before taking up running, Jim, who is a Programme Development Manager at stair lift provider Stannah, described himself as a smoker and couch potato. He is now a member of the Sunderland Strollers running club, and took on the Great North Run in Newcastle upon Tyne and a long distance run in Salzburg, Germany in 2011.

Jim won his place in the marathon through a special competition, Run Mumbai in the UK, organised by Sightsavers’ Vision India initiative. The competition was supported by Standard Chartered and Skywards, the frequent flyer programme from Emirates.

Jim is also raising funds for Sightsavers, and said: “It will be an honour and privilege for me to be running for Sightsavers in Mumbai and I look forward to seeing the work done by the charity when I visit. My colleagues at Stannah have been great in helping me increase awareness of my run, so we can raise some money for Sightsavers on the back of this great adventure.”

Jim also visited a vision centre of the Mumbai Eye Care Campaign, a Sightsavers programme in Mumbai. The vision centres provide primary eye care services to marginalised communities in the slums of Mumbai.

Katrina Scaife, Development Manager, Sightsavers who ran the Mumbai Marathon in 2010 said: “Over 150 running fanatics entered the Run Mumbai competition which gave us the chance to send someone on a once in a lifetime experience while raising awareness of Sightsavers’ work in India. I thank him in the advance for the funds he is raising for Sightsavers.”