30 years of dedication; CHARITY: Couple's support 'like extended family'.

ONE of the first nominations for our volunteer hero award is a married couple.

The category in the Pride of Coventry and Warwickshire Community Awards recognises some of the most hard working and selfless people living locally.

Richard and Jean Bartlam founded the Coventry and District branch of the British Retinitis Pigmentosa Society 30 years ago. The group meets at Sherbourne Fields School, Coundon.

Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) is a hereditary disease of the eye that can lead to blindness. It can also be accompanied by a deafness.

Jean, 65, was diagnosed with the condition in 1976 and registered blind when she was in her 30s.

For three decades, Richard and Jean, of Riddon Drive, Hinckley, have tirelessly organised support meetings and published a newsletter every two months, sent audio discs out to members, organised outings and fundraising events. The person nominating the couple said: "The group has become an extended family and they have shown that there is life beyond retinitis pigmentosa.

"Although they don't live in Coventry or Warwickshire, they have dedicated 30 years to helping people living in Coventry, Leamington, Warwick and Kenilworth."

Typically, people are diagnosed with RP when aged around 10 or once they have reached 30 and many become blind by the time they are 40.

RP is commonly described as tunnel vision, but its symptoms can also mean people experiencing loss of hearing and balance.

The couple have raised more than pounds 156,000 for research into the disease and regularly arrange social evenings where people are encouraged to talk through their problems.

Jean, as the society's organiser, even provides telephone help to members in need of information and advice.

The Volunteer Hero award is sponsored by Barclays Money Skills.

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NOMINATED...Richard and Jean Bartlam founded Coventry branch of British Retinitis Pigmentosa Society.