THE Royal National College for the Blind (RNC) will be marking its birthday tomorrow with a fundraising event with a difference.

The charity, which provides education and training to people with a visual impairment, is holding a Phantom Sportsman’s Dinner to raise funds for the development of its Sports Academy.

And it has even got the full backing of BT Sport presenter Des Kelly, Herefordshire paralympic gold medalist Josie Pearson and former Premier League footballer Danny Mills.

"Last year we raised over £9,000 through a phantom ball and we wanted to develop the idea further," said Rachel Read, fundraising officer at RNC.

"The idea behind the phantom sportsman’s dinner is simple – it doesn’t exist.

"Because there is no actual event every penny of the ticket price goes straight to our work rather than being eaten up in organisational costs and we can even claim full gift aid, increasing the value of the ticket price by £11.25.

"We are thrilled that Josie, Danny and Des have got behind the idea and are helping to promote it, we hope to raise a significant amount."

The RNC Sports Academy gives people with a visual impairment the opportunity to get involved in sport from grassroots to elite level and is also helping to develop additional sports for people who are blind and partially sighted.

Tickets cost £45 and are available by visiting www.rnc.ac.uk/phantomball, calling 01432 376 371 or emailing fundraising@rnc.ac.uk