A personal trainer and guide dog owner, who was registered blind in 2021, has shared his story of sight loss and launching his own gym at his home in Stonehouse, on the latest Joe Wicks podcast.
Mark Long was diagnosed with Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) when he was 12 but initially ignored his condition.
Mark explains: “It was really traumatic at the time, and I didn’t know how to deal with it, so at first, I ignored it.
“In 2021, aged 40, my symptoms got dramatically worse.
“I started to feel like one eye was constantly blurry. I was lying to myself, pretending it would be ok, but it wasn’t.
“I had to admit that it was a problem when I got to 41 – I went to the opticians, and they told me to stop driving immediately.
“I was registered blind within a matter of months, and I’ve lost any useful vision in my left eye and my right eye is similar to looking through a tube.”
Knowing that his sight wouldn’t get any better, Mark decided to contact sight loss charity Guide Dogs for support.
He explains: “I was partnered with my first guide dog Mary in January 2023.
“She is so life enhancing, and she fills my life with purpose.
“I’d lost so much confidence since losing my sight and I felt like I was heavily reliant on everyone else.
“As soon as she came on the scene, she helped so much.
“She gives me a reason to get up in the mornings and she supports me emotionally all of the time.”
Mark has been involved in the fitness industry for 25 years as a personal trainer, working with several professional athletes and teams.
After being partnered with Mary, and with support from his family, he decided to build his own gym at home, The Coach House, at the beginning of 2024 and start his own business.
Mark explains: “When we were building the gym, I was trying to hold it together for my family and keep positive, but inside I felt absolutely terrified –I kept thinking who wants training from a blind guy?!
“Thankfully it’s gone well – obviously it’s great to have a safe working environment attached to my house.
“My clients will often say ‘well you don’t look blind’ – I think it surprises people.
“What I really like about it is that it’s breaking that stereotype – it’s been an eye opener for people locally to see that I’m getting stuff done, even though I have a sight condition.”
Mark and his guide dog Mary feature on the first episode of season 2 of Joe Wicks’ podcast Extraordinary People, ‘I opened my own gym, shortly after being registered blind’, which launched on 6 May. Listen now on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you get your podcasts.
To find out more about Guide Dogs, visit guidedogs.org.uk
