BBC Morning Live star Dr Oscar Duke has revealed the challenges he has encountered due to his health condition. The doctor and television medic joined the programme on Thursday, 23 April via video link, where he chatted to presenters Louise Minchin and Greg Rutherford from the ExCel London Running Show ahead of the London Marathon.
Between speaking to individuals participating in the event this Sunday (26 April), Dr Oscar discussed his own intentions to complete Couch to 5k for the programme.
"You're surrounded by people that are about to run 26.2 miles, you're of course not doing the marathon, Oscar, are you?" Greg opened. "But your running journey has started through the NHS Couch to 5k app, how is it all going for you, mate?"
Oscar responded: "I feel very much a guest in this world, they're streaming in behind me now to get their accreditation. For me, yes, I've started a little bit of running with Couch to 5k. It's baby steps to start with, I have to say. I don't love running, I'm not a natural runner. I could take some inspiration from some of the people here I am sure. Also, I face some other challenges within my running so I find it difficult getting that time in the morning to do it."
He mentioned that he was beginning to appreciate running, as Greg enquired: "Oscar, you were born with a genetic condition, weren't you? Albinism - and that gives you a visual impairment, which can make running difficult at times."
Oscar responded: "That's exactly right, being severely visually impaired is really challenging, every bit of pavement, every tree, twig, the sun streaming into my eyes, all of those things can make it really, really difficult. I tend to run somewhere where I know, I'm very familiar with the route, but I'm going to be doing the Morning Live Couch to 5k run and I've got a support runner."
Dr Oscar quipped that they could have selected Olympian Greg Rutherford as his support runner, but it would instead be Gethin Jones who was training to accompany him. He said: "He is, bless him, training to be my support runner but we will not be alone in terms of marathon-terms."
Dr Oscar has previously spoken about his Albinism, a rare, genetic condition resulting in reduced or absent melanin pigment, affecting skin, hair, and eyes. According to the NHS, the condition can affect people's colouring and their eyesight, typically causing very pale skin, light hair, and vision impairment due to abnormal eye development. It has no cure, but treatment involves vision care and sun protection.
He previously spoke to Jeans for Genes about the condition, explaining he faced discrimination as a child due to the rare condition. He began: "When I first popped into the world, my parents noticed I was very fair. Some might even say white, super white. Within a few weeks I'd been diagnosed with a condition called albinism, or more correctly, Oculocutaneous Albinism. My parents were told that I wouldn't be able to attend mainstream school or lead a normal life. Luckily, this was wrong."
Devastatingly, he continued: "As a child I remember being spat or sworn at by strangers because I looked different."
Dr Oscar also fronted a documentary, Born Too White, focused on the persecution of people with albinism in East Africa, where with doctors spread beliefs that their body parts can be used in potions to bring good luck and fortune, causing the attack, mutilation and murder of people with albinism.
Dr Oscar concluded: "As a doctor with albinism, I hope that one day – in the not too distant future – gene therapy will be able to provide a potential cure for those affected by this condition."
Morning Live airs from 9.30am on BBC One and iPlayer.
