Being married for 50 years is an achievement. This is the milestone that my parents achieved in March this year.

My father has aniridia (as to the best of our knowledge did his father), as did his brother. When my parents were married very little was understood about the condition, at least at the level of the out-patient’s department in a hospital. It was generally treated in the same bracket as general low vision or short sightedness. Genetic counselling was certainly a long way off.

In the same way as others with a disability, my parents got on with setting up home and bought up two children (both with aniridia), they have faced the same challenges as many people and come through them – including full time employment and running their own business.

To celebrate all they have achieved, my parents decided to throw a party at a local hotel for their 50th wedding anniversary. After all that time, they pretty much have everything that they need. So they decided that as many of their guests would have to travel to attend the party, they would ask for donations to ANUK rather than people feeling they ought to think about a gift. When they sent out the invitation, they included details of how donations could be made and an information leaflet on the work that ANUK does.

The day of the party dawned bright and dry. A good number of people arrived for the party. Apart from lunch (including a cake that my sister had made and decorated) there was also the entertainment of a birds of prey display in the hotel’s garden, which was quite exciting when they were flying close to us. You could even have a go at holding the birds yourself.

The donations made by the guests to the party totalled £95, which my parents were pleased with, as they know how even the basic running costs of putting on an event can add up, whether this is the cost of room hire, stationary and equipment or catering.

My parents enjoyed their party and were glad to help raise money for ANUK.

By Sarah

Aniridia Network UK thank Sarah’s parents for their magnanimous gift. We wish them much more happiness in future.