A 70-YEAR-OLD Bewdley woman with an incurable eye disease is cycling more than 4,500 miles to raise money for the charity dedicated to beating the UK's biggest cause of blindness.

Julia Mills is covering the 4,549 miles equivalent to the distance between London and Havana, Cuba on her static exercise bike.

The globe-trotting challenge is in support of the Macular Society’s Step around the World challenge.

Julia was first diagnosed with diabetic macular oedema (DMO) in 2011, the most common cause of sight loss in people with diabetes.

The condition came on quickly. Her symptoms began with blurred vision in her left eye. During the same time, Julia also suffered a heart attack and was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes.

Despite her other health issues, Julia said it’s her visual impairment that has had the biggest impact on her life.

She said: “I had to give up my driving licence, which is the worst thing anybody can say to you - it was hard to put that in the post box, I can tell you.”

Julia’s motivation to fundraise for the Macular Society is driven by wanting to help other people with sight loss, particularly children.

“My condition will never be cured," said Julia. "But although I won’t have the same opportunities that others may have, there’s no reason why I shouldn’t support everybody else’s.

"My thoughts are with the children who have these horrible eye conditions. I mean, it’s dreadful, they haven’t even lived their lives yet.”

Nearly 1.5 million people are currently affected by DMO and many more are at risk. The disease can have a devastating effect on people’s lives, leaving them unable to drive, read or see faces.

Julia has had great support from the Kidderminster Macular Society support group – one of a network of 400 groups across the UK supporting those affected by macular disease.

She said: “Before I joined, nobody had explained much about my condition or what to expect. But when I went along to the group, I was made very welcome, and they talked to me about DMO.

"Knowing that I’m not the only one affected has really helped me to accept my loss of sight.”

Amanda Read, senior regional manager for the Macular Society, said: “Julia’s commitment to wanting to help other people affected by sight loss is truly inspiring, and even more so considering that she has other significant health conditions to cope with.

"Despite everything that she has to deal with on a daily basis, Julia has such a positive attitude, and is a wonderful example of how it is possible to adapt to living with a visual impairment.”

To support Julia's fundraising efforts, go to justgiving.com/fundraising/julia-mills7, or for more information on the Step around the World challenge, visit macularsociety.org.

For more information about the Kidderminster support group, contact Amanda Read on 01453 755 803 or email amanda.read@macularsociety.org.