Partially sighted football fan in attempt to run around 40 football club pitches, including the Stadium of Light

Luke Corbet, a sales administrator from Birmingham, is partially sighted after being born with kidney failure and spending seven years of his life on dialysis. He had a transplant at the age of nine.

To raise money for Kidney Care UK, which supports kidney patients across the country, he will run the London Marathon in April. But before then he will run round the pitches of 40 football clubs in one week. He has a target figure of £3,000.

Luke, 31, who only has tunnel vision in his left eye, ran round the perimeter of Sunderland AFC’s hallowed pitch. It was the third pitch on his tour after he began his week-long effort at Newcastle’s St James’ Park, before moving south to Gateshead Stadium, the Stadium of Light and the Riverside at Middlesbrough.

Luke is an Aston Villa supporter and his final run will be at Villa Park on Monday, January 13. For traffic reasons he is avoiding London, but will be as far south as Portsmouth and Southampton, and also Cardiff and Swansea.

Other stadiums on the tour include Old Trafford, Anfield, Goodison Park and Molineux.

He said: “Sunderland have been really helpful and got behind the cause.

“Football gets a very big following, so I’m trying to attract a larger audience to get more attention and sponsorship. If I wasn’t supported by Kidney Care UK when I was younger, I wouldn’t be living my life today.

“A couple of clubs have already given us merchandise to raise money with. Everton have donated a signed football, Birmingham and Derby match tickets and Manchester United a signed shirt.

“I’ve had family members who have offered me money for that, but I’m going to get it valued.”

Before ending at his beloved Villa Park on January 13, Luke’s second-last lap will be at St Andrew’s: home of Villa’s arch-rivals Birmingham City.

But Luke added: “Along with Sunderland they’ve been one of the most helpful.”

To contribute, visit uk.virginmoneygiving.com/LukeCorbet.