A group of work colleagues from West Yorkshire battled through torrential rain to raise £1,218 by completing a 13-mile fundraising walk for Blind Veterans UK, the national charity for vision-impaired ex-Service men and women.
The group of 13 colleagues from Huddersfield based BOGE UK (a global, family-owned manufacturer of industrial air compressors) were set to hike up Scafell Pike on 19 September and expected it to take them around seven to eight hours to complete but the British weather altered their plans.
Katie Medd, who works as a Sales and Marketing Administrator at BOGE UK and took part in the challenge, says:
“Severe weather warnings and safety concerns meant we couldn’t complete our original challenge. With torrential rain, there was a lot of flooding all over the Lake District and mountain rescue were advising people not to climb Scafell.
“Instead, Danny Powell, our walk leader who himself is a military veteran, looked at alternative routes the night before and we ended up doing a 13-mile circular trek starting from the Langdale Valley which we completed in around nine hours.”
BOGE UK selects a different charity each year to support with a fundraising challenge. This year, they chose Blind Veterans UK after conversations with one of their distributors who is a blind veteran supported by the charity.
Katie says:
“We heard first-hand how Blind Veterans UK supports ex-Service men and women at their lowest moments, making a life-changing, and often life-saving, difference for them and their families.
“Despite the non-stop rain, spirits remained high. While it wasn’t the route we originally planned, the day was still a huge test of endurance, determination and teamwork and the whole team pushed on to complete the challenge for Blind Veterans UK.
“Knowing that our effort will support veterans living with sight loss and helping them rebuild confidence, regain independence, and stay active, means a great deal to all of us. Every donation is a reminder that we have made a tangible difference.
“These challenges bring people from different locations and departments together with a clear, shared goal. They build trust, resilience, and communication in a way you just don’t get in the office. Morale gets a real lift; there’s a sense of pride in pushing ourselves and doing something meaningful as one BOGE team.”
If you would like to find out how your organisation could get involved in fundraising for Blind Veterans UK, please email: corporate@blindveterans.org.uk
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
