News

25 April 2017

Blind Veterans UK

Fund-raising, fundraising, Sport, Veterans, Welfare

Veteran from Plymouth to compete in 100 mile bike ride for military charity that supports his father

A veteran from Plymouth is set to compete in the Prudential Ride London-Surrey 100 for Blind Veterans UK, the national charity for vision-impaired ex-Service men and women that supports his father.

Andrew Whitby, 55, signed up to the epic 100-mile route after watching the acclaimed documentary, Fixing Dad. The heart-warming story, allied with Andrew’s own passion for cycling, meant that the temptation was all too much to deny. He says: “The documentary was brilliant, incredibly heart-warming. I’m also a keen cyclist and have completed the Tour de Moor a few times, so it’s got to the point where I’m thinking, ‘right, what’s the next challenge going to be then?’.”

11 April 2017

Blind Veterans UK

Awards, Disability Support, Events, Funding, Health, Remembrance, Support, Veterans, Welfare

Blind veteran from Cumbria to receive prestigious medal for helping liberate France from the Nazis

A Second World War blind veteran from Cumbria is to be formally presented with the Chevalier de l’Ordre National de la Legion d’Honneur for his part in the liberation of France.

William Gerard Lackey, 96 and from Ulverston, will be presented with the prestigious honour by Philip Daniel, the Honorary French Consul of Liverpool, on behalf of French president Francois Hollande next week (19/04).

10 April 2017

Blind Veterans UK

Awards, Disability Support, Events, Fund-raising, Funding, fundraising, Health, Support, Veterans, Welfare

High Sheriff raises over £8,000 for local military charity

The High Sheriff of Clwyd has raised over £8,000 for Blind Veterans UK, the military charity for blind and vision-impaired ex-Service men and women.

Jim O’Toole donated the money after he climbed Mount Kilimanjaro. The climb raised funds to purchase vehicles that would assist less-abled veterans visiting the charity’s training and rehabilitation centre in Llandudno to access its popular Woodland Walk.

Of the achievement, which was in fact the second time Jim has climbed Kilimanjaro, he says: “It was exhilarating and of course a fantastic experience. The elements were extremely tough; at night the temperatures at the summit were somewhere between minus 15C and minus 25C, while the oxygen level was only around 50% of that at sea level. We managed to trek eight hours each day, except for the final summit day, which took around 16 hours.”

10 April 2017

Blind Veterans UK

Awards, Disability Support, Events, Health, Support, Veterans, Welfare

Skegness blind veteran presented with award for outstanding work with military charity

A blind veteran from Skegness has received a prestigious award from military charity Blind Veterans UK, the national charity for vision-impaired ex-Service men and women.

Carol Davies, 66 and from Skegness, received the Blind Veterans UK Community Award which is given to recognise the contribution by a blind veteran, spouse, widow or widower to the family of Blind Veterans UK.

10 April 2017

Blind Veterans UK

Disability Support, Events, Funding, fundraising, Remembrance, Sport, Veterans, Welfare

Specsavers Director from Surrey to compete in London Marathon for military charity

A man from Surrey is set to compete in the London Marathon for Blind Veterans UK, the national charity for vision-impaired ex-Service men and women.
Lateef Iqbal, 47 and from Farnham, opted to sign up to the mammoth 26-mile challenge after last year sustaining a knee injury which rendered him unable to partake in his extensive list of sporting interests. He says: “I injured my knee, a longstanding niggle that just wouldn’t go away, and the MRI scan basically showed that I couldn’t play badminton, couldn’t play squash, couldn’t swim or play football. The only thing the doctor said I could do was walk!”

6 April 2017

Blind Veterans UK

Disability Support, Events, Funding, fundraising, Remembrance, Sport, Veterans, Welfare

Blind veteran’s granddaughter to run London Marathon for military charity that supported him

A woman from West Yorkshire is set to run the London Marathon for Blind Veterans UK, the national charity for vision-impaired ex-Service men and women, to say thank you for the support it provided to her grandfather.

Kate Foster, 28 and originally from Cleckheaton and now living in Bromley, is running on behalf of the charity which provided her grandfather, Eric, with the means and confidence to lead a prosperous and independent life, despite his complete sight loss.

5 April 2017

Blind Veterans UK

Accommodation, Awards, Disability Support, Veterans, Welfare

Llandudno blind veteran Billy presented with charity’s highest honour

A blind veteran from Llandudno has received the highest honour from military charity Blind Veterans UK, the national charity for vision-impaired ex-Service men and women.

Billy Baxter, known to many in Llandudno as he serves as the Town Crier, received the honour at the Blind Veterans UK Founder’s Day Awards, held at the charity’s training and rehabilitation centre in Llandudno.

Billy, 53, was presented with the Ted Higgs Prize, considered to be the charity’s highest honour. It was given to Blind Veterans UK in memory of the late Ted Higgs, a blind veteran who lost all of his sight in 1944, whilst serving with the Royal Artillery in the Second World War. It was kindly donated by members of his family and the award is given to a war-blinded veteran in recognition of lifetime achievement with Blind Veterans UK.

4 April 2017

Blind Veterans UK

Disability Support, Health, Sport, Veterans, Welfare

Blind veteran from Stowmarket to take on fastest zip line in the world for military charity

It was in 2012, following a car accident, that the doctors found a brain tumour behind Steven’s eye during an MRI scan. Following its removal, Steven would lose part of his sight. Unfortunately for Steven, a second tumour developed, again behind his eyes, with Steven losing yet more of his eye sight. He says: “I can currently see about three inches in front of my face, with no peripheral vision.”

While Steven, who joined the army at 16 as a Junior Leader, received plenty of advice on how best to cope with his sight loss, he maintains that it wasn’t until he got involved with Blind Veterans UK that he began receiving the practical support he felt necessary to lead an independent life again.

3 April 2017

Blind Veterans UK

Disability Support, Events, Funding, fundraising, Remembrance, Sport, Veterans, Welfare

Emmerdale star joins blind veterans to train for 100km ultra challenge

One of the stars of Emmerdale has joined several blind veterans as they trained for the 100k Yorkshire challenge, a 24-hour walk organised by Blind Veterans UK, the national charity for vision-impaired ex-Service men and women.

Jonathan Wrather, 48 and currently starring as Pierce Harris in the long running soap-opera, joined blind veterans Roan Webb, Mike Johnson and Steve Thomas as they trained for the ultra-challenge in the Yorkshire Dales. A former Cadet in the Combined Cadet Forces, Jonathan has long been an admirer of the charity and is looking forward to taking on the mammoth challenge, which he’ll be competing in as part of a relay team with fellow Emmerdale actors, Chris Chitell and Liam Fox.

30 March 2017

Blind Veterans UK

Disability Support, Health, Sport, Veterans, Welfare

Blindness no issue for golf-playing veteran

A blind veteran from Knott End-On-Sea has been able to reignite his passion for golf thanks to Blind Veterans UK, the national charity for vision-impaired ex-Service men and women.

Myke Worthington, 55 and originally from Cheshire, was an avid player before his sight began to deteriorate and had all but resigned himself to the possibility that he’d never play again. He says: “I started receiving support from the charity in 2014 and if I’m honest, I didn’t think that playing golf would be something I’d be able to do again. I’ve got Retinitis Pigmentosa and wet macular degeneration and as a result I’m blind in my left eye with only half vision in my right. I’m also colour blind which meant the snooker career had to be put on hold too!”

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