Rachael Brown, 36, was left with only partial hearing in 2012 after being diagnosed with cholesteatoma, a benign growth behind her eardrum.
In January 2023, she lost the remainder of her hearing overnight, leaving her profoundly deaf with only limited hearing in her right ear.
The former ballet dancer, who transitioned into musical theatre in her teens, saw her career take a hit when the pandemic struck in 2020 and theatres had to close.
Three years later, her mental health was further affected when she became profoundly deaf.
A timely social media post by Hearing Dogs about the London Marathon inspired Rachael to take on the marathon challenge.
She said: “After losing my hearing so suddenly, my mental health was in a downward spiral.
“It was the motivation I needed to pick myself up.
“Physically and mentally, I already feel so much better.”
Rachael has been training for the marathon by running laps of Twickenham Stadium, each of which is one mile long, and has also joined a gym.
She said: “Being self-employed – I’m now training to be a stunt person – has given me the flexibility to fit my training in around my filming schedule.”
Although the 26.2-mile distance presents a significant challenge, Rachael’s stamina is unquestionable.
She has completed the Three Peaks Challenge twice and is an avid rock climber, scuba diver, and surfer.
However, she acknowledges the challenges she will face during the marathon.
She said: “The biggest challenge for me will be doing the marathon without any kind of music.
“Although my bone-anchored hearing aid (BAHA) helps me hear in the house, when I get outside, the wind takes away any sound.
“I’ll have to rely on remembering songs I’ve heard in the past.
“Failing that, on the day it will just be me and my tinnitus.”
Rachael also discovered that she runs with her toes first due to her ballet background, which could potentially break her Achilles tendon.
As a result, she has had to stop consistent running and is now alternating between running and walking.
Despite these challenges, Rachael is looking forward to the marathon.
She said: “Although I’m slightly terrified about being surrounded by all those people, I’m really looking forward to the atmosphere.
“Other deaf runners have told me that even though you can’t hear people calling your name, you can still feel the atmosphere.
“My parents are coming down from Nottingham to cheer me on, so I can’t wait to see them in the crowd.”
Rachael hopes her marathon journey will inspire others facing similar challenges and raise crucial funds for the charity, which supports deaf people by training hearing dogs to alert them to life-saving and important sounds, and provide confidence and companionship.
Anyone wanting to support Rachael in her marathon journey and donate to Hearing Dogs for Deaf People, can visit her JustGiving page.
