Brother Guides Visually Impaired Paralympian

Siblings Chris and Hannah Hunt-Skelley are preparing for the upcoming London Marathon, with Hannah acting as guide runner for her visually impaired brother. Chris, a decorated Paralympic judo athlete with a gold medal from Tokyo 2020 and a bronze from Paris 2024, is also hearing impaired. He was diagnosed with oculocutaneous albinism, a rare genetic condition, after a protracted and difficult diagnostic process in the UK.

His journey included significant misdiagnoses, leading to mental health struggles and PTSD. Judo provided a crucial lifeline, enabling him to adapt and excel in competition despite light sensitivity and visual impairment. A specialized medical team in Boston eventually provided the correct diagnosis, offering Chris a path forward.

Now, the siblings are running the marathon to raise funds for Fight For Sight, a charity dedicated to research for eye diseases. They have developed unique communication methods, including tactile signals, to navigate the race course effectively, highlighting their strong bond and shared resilience.