I’m Laura, I’m 26 and was born with aniridia.

My eyes get very sore, especially during the summer; I wear dark glasses and these help with the sensitivity. I take two types of eye-drops daily to keep my eye pressures in check. Later, in time, I will go blind. This fact affects me some days more than others, but I must take each day as it comes and enjoy what I can see today.

I also have autism. Having this condition affects a lot of things in my life. Meeting new people, communicating and socialising can be difficult for me, I also, at times struggle with being in a big crowd and loud noise. The severity of my conditions differs from day to day, and I must live one day at a time.

Having these conditions makes life hard for me, but there is always a way around it, it can be frustrating, but I always try and remain as positive as possible.

Five years ago, I joined a football team for people with varied disabilities. Since joining this team, my confidence has been built tremendously, because these individuals understand me and I feel that I can communicate and socialise better in their company. Before joining football, I didn’t talk to anybody; now, I have more confidence, and I even helped to coach the team (we were branded the ‘Dream Team’).

I never thought it would be possible to do something like that, but since the coaching experience, it has given me the confidence to take part in a fundraiser for a charity called Limbpower. In October, 2016, I will be attempting to run 68.4 miles in 3 days.

I hope that my story will inspire people facing tough challenges in life to fight on and to remain positive. Believe that anything is possible.