Zara: Hi, I’m Zara and I’m 7 and this is my mummy Kelly.

Kelly: Hi! Zara and I are here today to tell you about MACS! Zara and I were both born with microphthalmia, which means small eyes, and coloboma, which means gaps in the visual system in some way, which impacts on the way you’ll have very low vision. [Asking Zara] And what does it mean for you Zara, what does it mean to have your condition?

Zara: Wobbly!

Kelly: They’re a bit wobbly aren’t they! That’s nystagmus, the involuntary wobble. And what’s the best thing about having your eye condition?

Zara: [shy]

Kelly: It would be a bit boring if we were all the same, wouldn’t it!

Zara: Yes!

Kelly: Our eyes make us quite unique! What’s great about MACS is we get to meet lots of other boys and girls who have similar eyes, and that’s good fun. What do you do there?

Zara: We get to play and the last time we went to the zoo, and we also went to Lion King.

Kelly: We did go to see the Lion King, that was cool, wasn’t it?! So… We have been members of MACS for about 5 years, since Zara was about 2. We first got involved because I came to talk about the work that I did with supporting disabled graduates, and we realised how fantastic a support the MACS organisation would be for our own family. I’ve obviously had MACS conditions all my life, but never knew about MACS when growing up, all that time ago when I was a little girl it didn’t exist, and it would have been a very good thing for me and my siblings because I was the only one to have the MACS condition, it would have been a fantastic opportunity for us but the great thing is Zara and her sister Bethan have this now and we get to meet loads of girls and boys from all over the country, and my husband Dan and I have now made lifelong friends, and we also take part in virtual quizzes, virtual chats a lot of the time as well just providing support to each other and it’s been a great opportunity for us and really supportive, a great chance to ask questions.

Zara: MACS is in my pocket!

Kelly: Oh look, MACS is in your pocket! Do you think he can come out to wave goodbye?

Both: Goodbye!