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Darts Star Battles Rare Blindness for Charity
2 Jan
Summary
- Searle has Autosomal Dominant Optic Atrophy, a rare vision condition.
- He has raised over £10,000 for the Cure ADOA Foundation.
- His daughter is also visually impaired due to the hereditary condition.
A darts player named Searle is navigating life with Autosomal Dominant Optic Atrophy (ADOA), a rare condition that causes his optic nerve to thin, progressively impacting his vision. On difficult days, his sight is so impaired that he cannot see where his darts land, creating challenges even during matches. He has been raising awareness and funds for the Cure ADOA Foundation, successfully generating over £10,000.
Searle's commitment extends beyond personal fundraising; he has actively requested opponents to donate shirts for raffles to boost his efforts. His motivation is deeply personal, as ADOA is a hereditary condition that has affected his children. His daughter, in particular, has a severe form of the condition, with her vision significantly impaired beyond six feet.
He shared that he only recently received his diagnosis within the last 18 months, though the condition has impacted him for as long as he can recall. While there is currently no cure, Searle wears contact lenses to mitigate some blurriness. He hopes his journey can inspire others with visual impairments to take up the sport and actively seeks a cure so his daughter might one day be able to drive.
