Catherine Birchall is fundraising for The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association

A Blind Woman, Two Wheels, 25,000 Miles

On Top Of The World

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Raising money for

The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association

Charity Registration No. in England and Wales 209617 and Scotland SC038979

The ability to get around is vital in order to live a full life yet thousands of blind and partially-sighted people never leave home alone. We empower visually-impaired people to live their lives how they want to.

We breed and train guide dogs which provide life changing mobility and there are currently 4,500 working guide dog partnerships in the UK. Guide dog owners only have to pay a nominal 50p for their dog to ensure no-one is prevented from having one due to lack of funds but the full lifetime cost of a guide dog from birth to retirement is £49,800. We rely on the support of the public to fund our services.

We also provide other mobility services such as rehabilitation and white cane training as well as campaign passionately to break down barriers – both physical and legal – to enable blind and partially-sighted people to get around on their own.

Page owner

Catherine Birchall

Page closes

02/11/2009

RSS

Raised: 43%

Target: £2,500.00
Raised so far: £1,064.00

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My story

BLIND WOMAN SETS HER SIGHTS ON GLOBAL BIKE FIRST

Written by Bernard Smith

Hello and welcome to Catherine' s World Tour Fundraising Page.

If you have come from www.worldtour.org.uk then you will be aware of the journey and what Catherine is setting out to do. If you have stumbled onto this page during a random search then a very special welcome. You can find more information by following the link above and then come back to this page to make a donation.

I think it is important to say that Catherine is set to become the first blind person to travel around the world on a motorbike. This unique two-wheeled trip will see her ride pillion across Europe, Asia, Australia, and America in an effort to help raise more than £2,500 for charity.

The event itself is fully supported by The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association, Action for Blind People and the Royal National Institute of the Blind (RNIB). It is also time to say a very special thanks to Dolphin Computer Access who will be supplying Catherine's Access Technology for the duration of the trip. A big Thank You also to Autocom Communication Specialists who have supplied the Intercom system for the motorcycle - it really is very, very good!

Apart from the obvious fundraising target we have set Catherine has said that just as importantly the journey is about raising "....awareness and people’s hopes that even if they lose their sight, it shouldn’t necessarily mean placing boundaries around their expectations or ambition.”

I think this last quote from Catherine sums up her determination to succeed and I very much look forward to working with her on this journey.

Best Wishes

Bernard Smith

Web-site: www.worldtour.org.uk

Email: information@worldtour.org.uk. You can contact Cathy by email through the web site if you wish to offer any other form of support.

This appeal for support is in aid of Guide Dogs for the Blind Association, Action For Blind People and the Royal National Institute of Blind and Partially sighted people.

The Journey is also being supported by Dolphin Computers and Autocom Specialist Communications. We are very grateful for their help and assistance.

Please follow this link back to www.worldtour.org.uk

	With grateful thanks to Mary from Liverpool and The Women's Institute of Cheshire for the collection. Donation by Catherine Birchall 21/09/09	£80.00 + £22.56 Gift Aid
	Well done Kath and Bernard! Great to have crossed pathes on your trip! Donation by Christopher Medlow 14/07/09	£25.00
	Welcome home Cathy and Bernard. Congratulations on completing the World Tour. Donation by Andy Dickinson 07/07/09	£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid
	CONGRATULATIONS BERNIE AND CATHY! Donation by Anne Williams 02/07/09
	Enjoying reading about your exploits. Good Luck with rest of journey Donation by Val Baylis 31/01/09	£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid
	everyone from the Merseyside team says a big hello. Donation by Lisa Griffiths 09/01/09	£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid
	best wishes and safe journey through Turkey! Donation by Gordon from Athens 22/09/08	£79.00 + £22.28 Gift Aid
	best wishes from Ireland and Mount Merrion Donation by Michael Campbell 22/09/08	£238.00
	have a very, very safe journey Donation by Allan and Gwen 03/08/08	£40.00 + £11.28 Gift Aid
	from Season's cafe in eccles. Donation by Lisa 31/07/08	£5.00 + £1.41 Gift Aid
	Have an amazing journey and keep safe. Donation by Liza 31/07/08	£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid
	to cathy and bernard from all their friends and colleagues at Liverpool Community College Donation by LIverpool Community College 31/07/08	£137.00 + £38.64 Gift Aid
	have a great adventure and just carry on memory making! Donation by mike and kim 31/07/08	£60.00 + £16.92 Gift Aid
	Best of luck Cathy and Bernard. I'll miss you at work! Donation by Donna Waring 22/07/08	£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid
	Good luck, Cathy and Bernard. Karen from Warrington Society for the Blind Help Desk, Warrington Hosp Donation by Karen Blenkinsop 24/06/08	£10.00
	good luck, keep opening doors-and throttle1 Donation by mrs irene jones 26/04/08	£20.00
	As a keen biker myself I applaud your idea and wish you and Bernard a wonderful trip. Donation by Rob B 01/03/08	£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid
	With thanks to everybody in Dwyran especially customers and staff of the post office. Donation by Cathy 26/09/07	£130.00 + £36.67 Gift Aid
	Good luck and enjoy! Donation by Dorayne Macdonald 20/07/07	£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid
	Absolutely fantastic! What an adventure! Donation by Jane S 04/07/07	£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid
	Good luck! Donation by Louise Knox 04/07/07	£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid
	Donation by Jean Williams 03/07/07	£30.00 + £8.46 Gift Aid
	Keep up the good work Donation by Jean Miller 14/06/07	£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid
	Best wishes-hope that it all goes smoothly! Donation by Jeff 01/06/07	£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

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* Total raised online:	£1,064.00
Offline donations:	£0.00
Gift Aid plus supplement:	£217.46

* Charities pay a small fee for our service.
Find out how much it is and what we do for it.