A TEENAGER who lost his sight and got it partially back a year later is holding a race night to raise money for charity.

Michael Harrison was struck down with a rare disease which damaged the optic nerve.

Now the 18-year-old of Badger Close, Padiham, is holding an evening of racing to raise money for the Burnley and District Blind Society.

He said the help he received from them when he lost his sight in 2005 was invaluable.

The IT student said: "It's going to be a really good night and will raise money at the same time."

"The society gave me a lot of support and advice. Without them I would have been lost."

He plans to raise money using a board game which allows players to bet fake money on a horse, using a dice.

A month before he got his eyesight back the teenager jumped out of an aeroplane for charity, despite his extreme fear of heights.

Experts said he was probably the only boy in East Lancashire with Leber's Optic Neuropathy, which has no cure.

After an appointment at Burnley general Hospital it was confimed that he was one of the four per cent of sufferers who regain some sight.

The supper takes place on Friday at 7.30pm, at Ighten Mount Bowling Club, Romford Street.

Tickets cost £5 and include a pie and peas supper and £5 worth of fake money for gamblers' to have a flutter on their favourite horse.

The disease, which affects one in 30,000 people between the ages 16 and 24, has no warning of onset but in rare cases, such as Michael's, sight can partially return.

Most people with the condition, which damages the optic nerve, lose their sight over a period of months, with a gap of a month or two between the first and second eye.

Michael was one of the fortunate few whose sight gradually improved over a period of time.

He still has only partial vision and doctors have warned him that he will always have blind spots and there is a chance that he could lose his sight again if he is put under stress.