NEW GOALS FOR THE OWENS . . .
Football challenge for star and son
SOCCER legend Michael Owen and his partially sighted son James are the focus of a new TNT Sports documentary.
Football is for Everyone highlights James’s experiences with sight loss after being diagnosed with Stargardt disease, aged eight, and the obstacles he faces following in his father’s football footsteps.
The documentary follows the pair as they seek to understand more about James’s condition – with a behind the scenes look at England’s partially sighted futsal team.
The film features candid interviews with the players and coaching staff as they prepared for the IBSA World Games.
Stargardt disease is a genetic condition caused by a tiny alteration in a single gene. It affects about one in 10,000 people.
It causes a wasting of a central area of the retina called the macula. This area is eventually surrounded by a ring of white or yellow spots. An important layer of the retina, the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), is also affected by an accumulation of ‘waste’ material called lipofuscin.
Being diagnosed can be distressing, but with the right information and support, people can cope very well.
The vast majority people with thet disease do not lose all their sight. It usually affects central vision only.
Macular Society Helpline: 0300 3030