Story
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My name is Glen Daniels, I am a severely sight impaired and became a Guide Dog owner in December 2012, I’m raising money for the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association UK. I like to push boundaries and remove stereotypes; I’d like to show that being blind or partially sighted need not prevent you from exceeding in life. I also aim to encourage young or newly sight impaired individuals that sight loss can be the beginning of a fruitful and fulfilling life and not the end.
My Sighted Guide Matt Cannell and I, will be trekking over 100km across the Morrocan Sahara Desert in March 2013
About me
I live in Enfield, with my wonderful wife and our three children. I’ve always been sight impaired and I was registered as legally blind in 1995. My visual impairment was caused by a condition called “X-linked retinoschisis”. This led to bleeding and splitting within the retinal layers, resulting in severe visual deterioration.
In addition I also suffered from a hip disease called “Perthes Disease”. This caused loss of bone mass and collapse of the hip and deformity of this ball and socket joint. This resulted in severe hip pain and difficulty walking during my early childhood years. The long term consequence for this condition is regular hip pain, arthritic changes and will result in an early hip replacement in the future.
Despite all of the difficulties associated with these conditions, I attended mainstream schools and received very little help along the way. Between the ages of 14 and 24 years I participated in Olympic Style Weightlifting. Here I achieved British records, obtained English and British titles and finished my training at Commonwealth standard. In my mid 20’s I came to the point in my life that I felt I needed a career, something that I could do well that wouldn’t be greatly affected by my visual impairment. I started a course in sports and remedial massage in 2006, I discovered that I had found my vocation and manual therapy and helping people was the way forward for me.
On completion of this Diploma I had learned enough to know how little I knew. I then applied for a 4 year full-time degree to become a “Master of Osteopathy”. Many find the osteopathic medicine course to be an extremely challenging degree. I completed the degree and passed with good grades without failing a single module. I now work within Enfield and West Essex as both an osteopath and massage therapist. The added sense of touch my visual impairment has given me helps within my daily practice life.
Until my early 30’s I was completely out of the “disability help system”. I’d never used a cane, never had a guide dog, was completely unaware of the help, support and advice that was available for severely sight impaired individuals. This was mainly due to the fact that I wanted to blend in as a child and teenager, I felt that getting help was the same as giving in to my conditions. Although this intense independence helped in my younger years, with strategies and abilities, to function within a normal sighted community. It could also be tiring and difficult at times, this is why I’m now well and truly in the system and am now a proud Guide Dog owner.
Meeting the volunteers, workers and seeing the amount of work and money that goes into each guide dog (£50,000). Their approach to me as an individual, the support and understanding they have shown was why I chose to raise money for them.
About My 'Guided Sight' Companion
My name is Matt Cannell, I'm 34 and I live in Rugby, with my lovely wife Lynne and our energetic seven year old son - Freddie.
As a family we have been actively involved with Guide Dogs for the last few years. In 2010 after deciding to try and get - in a bout of madness, both myself and Lynne decided to register for the Great North Run raising money for Guide Dogs.
In 2011, we decided to try and make the run even more difficult for ourselves, and so entered running in (incredibly hot) guide dog suits. Unfortunately due to a car accident Lynne was unable to enter the race, but I still managed to get around. Freddie also joined us and entered the Children's Great North Run. All three of us will also be entering this years event - although we are still undecided on whether the dog suits will be used or not!
We also are boarders for Guide Dogs, providing a home to dogs during their training at the local Leamington Spa training centre - we are currently looking after our seventh dog. We also regularly help out Guide Dogs with local fundraising events.
Having seen the details of the Sahara Trek, it looked like an amazing event, and having spoken to Glen his enthusiasm has inspired me to take on this new challenge!
Our Fundraising Events...
1. October 2012 – Family Fun Day Hampshire
2. 17th November 2012 – Mini Family Funday Raglan School Enfield
3. 29th November 2012 – Charity Quiz Night HSSC Enfield
4. 4th December 2012 – Charity Indulgence evening Pure Enfield
5. 2nd March 2013 – Charity Dinner & Auction Enfield Golf Club - Guest Auctioneer : Nick De Bois MP
6. 23rd March - 1st April 2013 – Sahara Desert Trek Morocco. Myself and My Guided Sight Companion Matt Cannell undertook a 112km trek across the Moroccan Sahara Desert. The journey began on the 23 March 2013. We had to overcome not only the mobility difficulties associated with visual impairment, but also sand dunes, creepy crawlies and scorching heat. The trek lasted for 5 days and covered over 112km across one of the most inhospitable places on the planet.
7. TBC
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