A blind veteran from Swansea has raised over £1,000 after walking 26-miles along the Gower Coast to raise money for Blind Veterans UK, the national charity for vision-impaired ex-Service men and women.
Phil Lewis, 61, undertook his challenge on 1 June, a day earlier than planned due to the poor weather forecast. It took 14 hours to complete, and he walked 70,000 steps.
The fundraiser was Phil’s response to Blind Veterans UK’s Armed Forces Month campaign, which calls on people to organise activities to celebrate and commemorate key dates in the month of June while raising vital funds to support its work.
Phil says:
“I was joined by my friends Chris Hannon and Colin Barry as well as Sam Thomas who works as a Rehabilitation Officer for the Visually Impaired (ROVI) with Blind Veterans UK. These three men have been a great support to me throughout my sight loss journey and have helped me to prepare for this challenge. I couldn’t have done it without them.
“The terrain on the route was extremely challenging; only the last four miles of the coastal path was an actual proper pathway. The rest was more like a coastal climb than a coastal walk!
“Sam was my guide during the walk; it must have been as exhausting for him as it was for me, if not more so. Sam gave me constant instructions in the tricky sections and had to watch my steps as well as his own. We had planned to go for a pint when we finished, but instead we all went home to bed.”
In 2020, Phil lost his sight due to the hereditary condition retinitis pigmentosa. He says:
“I was stuck in my house for three and a half years. I knew my sight loss was coming but when it went downhill rapidly, I became incredibly depressed. Everything I’d worked for I had to give up and I could no longer drive. I went from having everything to nothing in a few months and then the Covid pandemic hit; I saw that as a sign and just didn’t go anywhere. I lost my independence and my motivation.
“Luckily for me, my optician asked if I’d been in the military and told me about Blind Veterans UK. They have showed me the way and made a real difference to my life.”
Phil began receiving support from Blind Veterans UK in 2023 and is supported by his local team including ROVI Sam.
ROVIs provide specialist assessment, training and advice to people who are visually impaired to help them live independently.
Phil says:
“Sam has been incredible; he introduced me to my cane and has built up my confidence to get out and about. I now catch the bus on my own and walk as far as I can which is usually five miles along the promenade.
“But I wanted to really challenge myself for this fundraiser by gong offroad with a variety of different terrains that I’m not used to. Sam has been so encouraging throughout my sight loss journey so it meant a lot to have him with me while I did something to raise awareness of the charity.
“All of the staff at the charity go above and beyond to get you involved and to ensure you feel part of something. There is always someone phoning to check in on you and I’ve been provided with equipment such a magnifier so I can read my own mail. In the Army it is all about comradeship and Blind Veterans UK gives that same sense of belonging.”
Sam Thomas, ROVI at Blind Veterans UK, says:
“When I first met Phil, he was unable to travel independently around his local area and relied on his family when getting around. He required skills that would enable him to feel safe and confident.
“We began with short routes around the park and eventually started branching into unfamiliar areas. With the use of the long cane and the skills he learnt he soon felt confident with asking for support and relying on his own skills to walk longer and more complicated routes.
“Phil has proved that sight loss does not prevent you from reaching your potential. He’s met stumbling blocks on the way but has always found solutions to meeting his goals. It was an honour to take part in this walk with Phil. I have learnt so much in the short time we have worked together and am looking forward to our next challenge.”
Phil joined the Army straight from school in 1980 and served as an apprenticeship carpenter but after being diagnosed with his eye condition, he was medically discharged after three years. Phil says:
“Although I only served for a short while I’ve kept in touch with my old mates and wanted to do this challenge for Armed Forces Month. It’s important to keep a spotlight on the sacrifice that our Armed Service personnel and their families make every day to serve their country; I hope with this walk I’ve done by bit.”
Phil has already raised over £1,100 for Blind Veterans UK. He says:
“I am chuffed to have smashed my £600 target. Without the support of the charity, I wouldn’t have considered taking on a challenge like this; I didn’t even think I’d leave the house alone again.”
If you would like to make a donation to support Phil with his fundraising for Blind Veterans UK please visit his Just Giving page: justgiving.com/page/goweryomp
If you are inspired by Phil and would like ideas for other activities to celebrate National Armed Forces Day during the month of June while raising vital funds to support blind veterans, visit the charity’s website: blindveterans.org.uk/afm
Blind Veterans UK supports thousands of blind veterans across the country, but knows there are many thousands more who still need its support to rebuild their lives after sight loss.
If you, or someone you know, served in the Armed Forces, including National Service, and are now struggling with sight loss, then please get in touch. Call 0800 389 7979 or visit: blindveterans.org.uk/gethelp
