A MOTHER from Prudhoe has spent the last quarter of a century raising funds for a charity dedicated to finding a treatment or cure for a hereditary disease of the eye.

Kathleen Batey first became aware of retinitis pigmentosa, which leads to deterioration of vision and blindness, when her son Anthony was diagnosed with the condition at the age of 21.

“We knew there was something wrong for a while and he was eventually diagnosed,” explained Kathleen, who holds regular events to raise funds towards ongoing research into the condition.

“With Anthony, it left him with tunnel vision after his peripheral vision went.

“He’s 46 now and uses a white stick, but he has a marvellous job. We’ve always remained very positive about it as a family and focused on what he could do.”

Anthony now lives in St Albans in Hertfordshire and works as a building service engineer, despite being partially sighted.

And his mother continues to be inspired to fund raise for the charity, Retinitis Pigmentosa Fighting Blindness.

“There is no cure at the moment, but I know there are a lot of places doing research, including the Centre For Life in Newcastle,” Kathleen added.

“This will be my 25th year of fund-raising and I must have sent about £1,000 a year.”

Whether it’s her annual coach trips to Leeds Market or her regular tombola and cake stalls at Prudhoe Parish Hall, Kathleen has come up with all sorts of ways to generate cash over the years.

And although she’s now in her 70s, she’s showing no signs of slowing down, with plans for a fund-raising Valentine’s coffee morning in Stocksfield tomorrow.

Between 10am and noon, at Stocksfield Methodist Church on Mount View Terrace, Kathleen will hosting the coffee morning and raffle, which will include refreshments, cakes and scones.