London Marathon: Blind and deaf OAP, 74, running for first time - 'I was written off'

Growing up completely blind and partially deaf, Mary Nunns was told she wouldn’t amount to much at school, and would never enjoy sport. But this weekend, together with her daughter Sarah, she’ll be tackling the London Marathon . “I was written off,” says Mary, 74, a former audio typist, who lives in Bexleyheath, South East London, with her husband Timothy, 72. Born premature at 28 weeks, an overdose of oxygen shortly after birth irreversibly damaged her ears and optic nerves. Mary says: “Now they know that preemie babies have a sensitivity to oxygen, but back then they didn’t. I got off lightly. Too much oxygen can cause brain damage, organ failure and even death. I fought, I was bloody minded, and I survived against all expectations.” Tough cookie Mary has spent her life proving people wrong. She says: “They didn't think I'd be able to play a musical instrument - but I play the church organ to a high standard. I loved high jump at school and managed to win a couple of swimming races. I’ve done some windsurfing in my 40s too. Who says I can't do something? Why not?” Mary is mum to daughters Phillipa, 38, and Sarah, 45, who has been running the London Marathon since 2018. “Mum and dad have come out to support me every year and, for the last couple, mum has mentioned that she’d like to have a go,” says Sarah, who lives in Liverpool and works as a marathon coach and charity consultant. And last summer, Mary won a coveted ballot place. “I nearly fainted in shock,” she says. “I’m not a runner, or at least I wasn’t - I am now!” Sarah explains that Mary, being blind, runs alongside her, holding on and using touch to guide her movements. "There are many ways to run a marathon when you’re blind,” says Sarah. “Tether, verbal instructions. We run together with mum taking my arm and she uses the feedback of how I’m moving to give her the signals of how to run, or whether I’m turning left or right.” Their non-verbal communication has been strong since Sarah was little. “I guide mum in an almost subconscious manner. I've grown up with mum being blind, so we developed ways of communicating with each other before I could even talk,” Sarah says. “I was always aware that my mum couldn’t see. Dad is very good at fixing things, but not very good at getting around to it. So one day when I was about two, he came down with his toolbox and I said, ‘Daddy fix mummy’s eyes?’ like it was a job he just hadn’t got round to yet. “Until I was seven or eight, I found it really weird that other mums could see.” Sometimes as a tot she used her poor mum’s disability to her advantage. “I had a musical potty, which played a little tune so mum knew I had been. But when I was being potty trained I would get a treat if I used the potty. I worked it out quickly and started putting a wet dish cloth in there to get the treat.” And Mary adds: “When it was noisy I was fine, but when it went quiet,.. That's when I knew she was doing something naughty.” Training with Sarah has been an absolute delight, says the proud mum. “It’s brought us even closer together, I call her multiple times a week to tell her about my progress,” says Mary. And Sarah adds: “She’s my star pupil. It’s lovely doing this together.” Mary is running for VICTA , a national charity empowering children and young adults who are blind or partially sighted and their families across the UK and has raised over £3000 so far. She says: “I've been shameless in getting everyone I have ever met to sponsor me. My chiropodist, my local councillor. It’s increased my confidence no end, my friends have been commenting on the change in me. A lot of people are absolutely gobsmacked when I tell them I’m running the London Marathon. I’m proof that if you want to do something, it can be done. I’ll see you at the finish line.” *Sponsor Mary at https://2026tcslondonmarathon.enthuse.com/pf/mary-nunns