A teenager who lost his sight following a firework accident is learning to run with his mum as his guide as the pair prepare to take on the 2027 London Marathon together.

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Tom Parnaby was 18 when he was involved in the accident in Scarborough on Bonfire Night in November 2025, just two months after his 18th birthday.

He suffered severe burns and injuries to his face, eyes, neck and hands, Yorkshire Live reports.

Tom’s left eye had to be removed, while damage to his right eye ultimately left him blind.

Less than a year after the accident, he is now training alongside his mum, Danni, with the pair planning to run the TCS London Marathon in 2027 to raise money for the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB).

Tom explained on his London Marathon fundraising page: “I was involved in a life changing accident Bonfire night 2025, 2 months after my 18th birthday, which resulted in me losing my sight.

“After my accident my mum wanted to give me something to focus on and that’s how the idea of us running the London marathon came about.”

@tom.danni.unfilte

• Run 1 • 20th July 2026 • Tom’s first run since going blind, my first run as a guide (practically my first run full stop if I’m totally honest) I only got whacked in the face and karate chopped in the throat once 😂😂 First lessons learned, we need a wrist strap attachment and I need somewhere to put my phone and keys and a drink. Proud of us 💗💙 Update; we’ve had strangers gift us running vests, friends gift us belts to store our phones, people suggesting and gifting running aids. A million thank yous, again, to you all!! Keep on running my boy, the whole worlds behind you 💙 #blind #son #training #running #london @RNIB @TCS London Marathon

♬ original sound – Tom & Danni: Unfiltered

Neither Tom nor Danni were runners before deciding to take on the challenge, meaning they are also having to learn how to run together with Danni acting as his guide.

Their first attempt at guide running reportedly involved a few mishaps, with Danni joking that she was hit in the face and “karate chopped” in the throat.

But the pair completed their first run and have continued working out what works for them as they prepare for the marathon.

Danni said she wants Tom to know that although his life has changed enormously, “he can still do anything he puts his mind to.”

Their challenge will raise money for RNIB, which Tom highlights as “the UK’s leading sight loss charity and the largest community of blind and partially sighted people” on his fundraiser page.

According to Tom’s fundraising page, 250 people begin to lose their sight in the UK every day.

@tom.danni.unfilte

Run 3 • Monday night 5k • Good weather, easy route, definitely our most enjoyable run yet! Toms getting more confident with every run we do 🥰 I can’t imagine what it’s like for him running in the dark, I can’t even fumble my way to the bathroom in the middle of the night in the dark, never mind run while putting his complete trust into a very novice runner (me) 😂 As always, forever proud of my boy 💙 #blind #running #son #mum #fyp

♬ original sound – Tom & Danni: Unfiltered

He hopes taking on the marathon will also send a wider message about what people with sight loss are capable of doing.

“Everyday 250 people begin to lose their sight in the UK,” he writes. “RNIB’s focus is to create a world where there are no barriers to people with sight loss and in doing the London Marathon I want to show people that being blind doesn’t change who you are or what you are capable of.”

Alongside adjusting to losing his sight and learning to run with his mum, Tom is also preparing to become a dad.

The marathon has given him a major target to work towards following the accident, with Danni alongside him throughout the training process as his guide.

Tom added: “Please support me as I take on this huge challenge for RNIB!”

You can note only donate to his fundraising page HERE, but you can follow their journey on TikTok and Instagram.

We wish the mum and son all the best!

Featured image credit: TikTok/Tom & Danni: Unfiltered