A woman from Powys will be running every day (RED) in December and taking on a series of increasingly challenging targets to raise money for the charity that supports blind and partially sighted veterans, Blind Veterans UK.
On top of running every day, Sam Bunning will complete a 5k on the first Sunday in December before progressing to a 10k, 15k and half marathon on the Sundays that follow.
35-years-old and from LLansantffraid in Powys, Sam decided to go RED after seeing the support her grandfather received from Blind Veterans UK and wanting to give something back to the charity.
She says:
“My grandfather was in the Navy and 20 years ago he started to lose his sight. The support the charity gave him in the early days was just amazing to see. They quickly got him up and running on a specially adapted computer so he could continue with his family history research.
“He’s in his 90s now and most of his Navy friends have sadly passed. So being able to visit the charity’s rehabilitation and training centre in Llandudno means the world to him. It also gives my mum some critical respite as his primary carer.”
Sam was due to take on the Cardiff Half in March but it has now been postponed. She says:
“I want to do something positive to end what has been a pretty negative year. I love running so I’m excited for it. I’ve never run every day so I’m also a little bit apprehensive. But I know it will all be worth it to raise money for a cause that I’ve seen change my grandfather’s life.”
Sam has set a £250 fundraising goal. To help Sam hit her target and support blind veterans who are struggling this winter, visit her Just Giving page: justgiving.com/fundraising/samantha-bunning
Blind Veterans UK has adapted its service to support its 5,000 beneficiaries, 90% of whom are over 70 and at an increased risk from Covid-19. The National Support Service has and will continue to help blind veterans through this period of social isolation.
Nicky Shaw, Blind Veterans UK Director of Operations said:
“Living in isolation, blind veterans need our help right now with daily tasks, such as the shopping, and constant emotional support through this difficult time. So we are temporarily changing our service and mobilising our staff to provide practical, essential support to help the most vulnerable.
“There is so much that we can and must do to support blind veterans to help them maintain physical and emotional wellbeing, and to feel safe, reassured and cared for during this crisis.”
You can keep updated on Blind Veterans UK’s response to Covid-19 at blindveterans.org.uk/coronavirus where you can also find out more about supporting the charity to make this new service possible.
