Deaf Royston girl hosts sponsored silence for the RP after degenerative eye condition diagnosis

A schoolgirl who suffers a condition which means she will end up deaf and blind has completed a sponsored silence for charity.

Chloe Reed from Royston was born deaf and was diagnosed with usher syndrome last year when she complained she was struggling to see at night. The syndrome causes retinitis pigmentosa, a degenerative condition affecting eyesight.

The 15-year-old’s mum Elizabeth, who she lives with in Melbourn Road. said: “We went to the opticians and they ran some tests. It was a bit of a shock to find out, as I thought the deafness was caused by septicaemia when I was pregnant. But Chloe was really brave when she heard the news.”

Chloe decided she wanted to raise money for the nationwide sight loss charity RP Fighting Blindness in any way she could and so last week took part in a sponsored silence at Knightsfield School in Welwyn Garden City, which specialises in teaching deaf children.

Elizabeth added: “She found it really hard because she’s really chatty. She had to communicate by writing on a white board. She was well looked after for the day and all the teachers kept an eye on her.”

Chloe raised £500 for RP through the sponsored silence. If you would like to donate to the charity, visit www.rpfightingblindness.org.uk