Paul Mitchell: a different kind of marathon
30 January 2020

Paul is a keen gamer. When one of his relatives began treatment at Moorfields, he decided to set up a gaming marathon to show his support!
After one of his relatives began treatment at Moorfields for a rare genetic condition called choroideremia, Paul wanted to support research into the condition.
Paul describes what happened to his relative, “At just 28 years old his condition is already becoming noticeable and as a family we’ll do anything we can to stop it.”
What is choroideremia?
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Choroideremia is a rare genetic eye condition that almost always affects males.
It usually begins in childhood and is caused by damage to the network of blood vessels (the choroid) that supplies the retina with the vital nutrients and oxygen that it needs to remain healthy.
So, to fundraise for research into choroideremia, Paul got together with four of his friends to take on a very different challenge - a 24 hour gaming marathon!
The gaming marathon
Paul explains what the group were hoping to achieve through their very original fundraising idea:
The hospital is conducting research into this condition and hopefully, with a bit of luck and support from people like us, they’ll be able to stop it progressing any further and he’ll still be able to see his children grow up.
As if their 24 hour challenge wasn’t enough, Paul and his friend Kamil promised that they would also shave their heads live on social media if they raised enough money for the marathon!
In the end, the group did a fantastic job. Their original target was £300 and by the time they finished their marathon, they’d raised a whopping £1,130!
“People laughed when we said we’d be gaming for 24 hours, assuming that it’s easy,” explains Paul. “It’s true that it is a lot of fun – for about the first 11 hours.
“After that point tiredness sets in and you end up speaking gibberish while still trying to play complex games that take a lot of brain power!”
We’re very impressed by Paul and his friends, and their hard work will help to further research around choroideremia and support a better future for people with the condition.
Well done, Paul!