Ashley hopes to set up his own business

Newspaper: Pontefract & Castleford Express.
Story: Twenty two year old Ashley Kean from Glasshoughton, will be totally blind by his 30th birthday due to suffering from Retinitis Pigmentosa. Ashley is currently looking for ways to raise awareness of the illness as well as raising funds for the RNIB.
Photo Date: 03/03/15 — Newspaper: Pontefract & Castleford Express. Story: Twenty two year old Ashley Kean from Glasshoughton, will be totally blind by his 30th birthday due to suffering from Retinitis Pigmentosa. Ashley is currently looking for ways to raise awareness of the illness as well as raising funds for the RNIB. Photo Date: 03/03/15

Mr Kean, 22, has retinitis pigmentosa, a degenerative eye disease that causes the retina to deteriorate.

He was diagnosed with the condition at the age of 11 and told he would “be lucky” if he still had his sight by the age of 30.

Now, after losing his job at a warehouse, he is hoping to set up his own gardening business and donate any profits to charity.

Mr Kean, of Garden Street, Glass Houghton, said: “I lost my job and have always had difficulties holding jobs down because of my sight.

“I’m a fully qualified landscape gardener and I’m hoping that thousands of people right across the district will benefit from it.”

Mr Kean will run the business on a not-for-profit basis and donate his takings to Wakefield District Sight Aid (WDSA).

He will also set up his own charity fund and money will be used to improve parks and playing fields across the district.

He said: “I was walking through Valley Gardens in Castleford and I just thought it used to be a really nice park whereas now it’s really run down.

“I know there is a friends’ group down there and they’re working hard but it’s really difficult because there’s just no funding.”

Mr Kean said he also hopes to raise thousands of pounds for WDSA. He said: “I just want to give something back and hopefully someone will be able to carry on my work after I lose my sight.”