Peter smashes marathon challenge in memory of mum

39-year-old Peter Leather from Eastham, Wirral, smashed both his personal best (PB) and fundraising goal when he completed the recent Brighton marathon for the British Tinnitus Association (BTA). The BTA is the only national charity that solely funds tinnitus research and supports people living with tinnitus.

Tinnitus is a debilitating condition where people hear noises in the head and/or ears which have no external source. There is currently no cure. Tinnitus affects 35,000 adults in the Wirral alone, and one in eight nationwide.

Peter shared, “My late mum, Beryl Leather, suffered with tinnitus most of her life, and struggled with this condition as it had an impact on her life every day”.

Peter completed the gruelling 26.2-mile race in a personal best of 5 hours and 50 minutes. He said, “The day was amazing: the atmosphere, the weather and the support was incredible!”

The British Tinnitus Association’s vision is “A world where no one suffers from tinnitus” which Peter fully supports. He said: “It’s a pleasure to be raising awareness that the BTA is there to help people like my mum who had this condition, and to raise as much as possible and to offer people support who are living with tinnitus right now.”

The BTA are looking for people to take part in a number of fundraising events, including the Virtual London Marathon. Please email fundraising@tinnitus.org.uk take part in your own challenge.

The British Tinnitus Association is an independent charity and the primary source of information for people with tinnitus. It helps to facilitate an improved quality of life for people with tinnitus through a range of support options including support groups, a helpline and its website, while also taking steps to bring forward the day when tinnitus is cured. The charity works to inform and educate medical professionals and the community on what tinnitus is and how to manage it. The British Tinnitus Association wants “a world where no one suffers from tinnitus”. It wants to find better ways to manage tinnitus and, ultimately, to help find a cure. In 2020, the publication of its Tinnitus Manifesto led to more than 130,000 people signing a petition for more funding for tinnitus research to find cures.