Blind artist from Havant completes Brighton Marathon 2026 with help from AI glasses and app in world first
Blind artist completes world first marathon run assisted by AI glasses
A blind artist from Havant has achieved a world first by running a marathon guided by artificial intelligence glasses, assisted by remote volunteers.
The app Be My Eyes was designed to help users in choosing what to wear or locating items in a fridge but Mr Reynolds is believed to be the first to use it to run the 26.2-mile course in aid of the Fight for Sight charity, which he is an ambassador for.
The 45-year-old said his goal had been achieved with the help of “hundreds of people from all over the world – from Croydon to Kansas and Belfast to Bahrain”.
“I’ve raised awareness and sparked so many conversations which I hope will help to challenge society’s ideas about what blind people can do”, he said.
Pre-selected volunteers were able to see exactly what was in front of Mr Reynolds and cheer him on as he completed the race on Sunday in just under six hours and 20 minutes.
Describing his experience using the app to train for the marathon, he said: “I have 10 seconds to say ‘Hi I’m Clarke, I’m training to run a marathon’. They see me. They’re expecting me to ask ‘where is the soup?’ Or help me to a shop.
“So, they are pretty blown away when I say I’m training for the Brighton Marathon. Some have even offered to sponsor me. I love the idea that hundreds of people from all over the world – from Croydon to Kansas and Belfast to Bahrain – will have helped me to achieve it.”
Mr Reynolds has so far raised £2,700 for national charity Fight for Sight, which funds research into eye conditions as well as funding nationwide support projects. Among those sponsoring Mr Reynolds was TV presenter Victoria Coren Mitchell.
“I love making the connection with people, telling them about why I’m running, and about Fight for Sight’s work. They are always really interested and love being part of something so out of the ordinary. We chat as I run,” he said.
Mr Reynolds has the inherited eye condition retinitis pigmentosa and describes his 5% vision as “like looking underwater”.
He had previously completed the London Marathon with a guide, and was joined by trained guide runner Alastair Ratcliffe as a backup safety precaution.
Fight for Sight’s director of impact and external affairs, Eleanor Southwood, said: “We are so proud of Clarke. What he has achieved is extraordinary. We are so grateful to him for his support and to everyone who has so generously sponsored him.”