Orme Wanderers
The Orme Wanderers 2016
Fundraising for Blind Veterans UK
Story
The challenge
This summer, four blind veterans will be pushed to their limits as together they attempt to walk 100km non-stop across Yorkshire’s rugged terrain. Their efforts will raise funds for the charity that has supported them - Blind Veterans UK, the national charity supporting blind ex-servicemen and women. Each of the veterans will require a sighted guide, to help them navigate the landscape, and this comes in the form of four Blind Veterans UK staff from the Llandudno Centre. The team of eight, is already undergoing a rigorous training programme to prepare their legs, feet and minds to complete the challenge in less than 20 hours and to establish the bond that will enable the veterans to trust their guides on the walk, particularly when tackling obstacles in the dark.
The team
- John - the true gent of the team and an experienced long distance walker, will be sighted guided by ex-Army PTI Lisa - a selfie queen and all round badass!
- Steve - accomplished physio, fisherman (and so much more!), will be aided around the route by Mark, the team leader for the event who has been held responsible for this idea, but who continues to motivate the team throughout even the darkest periods!
- Carl - the veteran most likely to finish the event with a cigarette in his hand and the world’s biggest smile on his face, will be guided by Gareth, team leader within the care team, who patiently endures much mickey taking for his service in the Air Training Corps.
- William - who has incredible stories from his time sailing singlehandedly around the world and whose determination is unbeatable, will be accompanied by nurse Carly who moonlights as a yoga teacher and provides unpalatable healthy “treats” for the team.
And last but by no means least, the team will be ably supported by Lee and Mike who have pledged to tend to the team’s every whim, blister and wobble, and have even promised a beer and pizza reception for the finish line!
The cause
When blind veteran, William Turner, suggested taking part in the challenge as a way to give back to the charity that supported him so much, he could never have anticipated the pace at which his idea would grow. Mark, the team leader for the event, and Activities Team Supervisor at the Llandudno Centre of Blind Veterans UK immediately set to work to pull a team together. The team aim to not only raise awareness of the life changing work the charity does, but also raise funds to allow them to continue to provide the emotional and practical support needed to help veterans recover their independence after losing their sight.
Blind Veterans UK celebrated its centenary year in 2015. Yet, 2016 is set to be a record breaking year for the charity as they extend their services to an even greater number of veterans with sight loss, irrespective of its cause. Blind Veterans UK relies solely on the support of fundraising and charity donations to continue its important work. You can learn more about how Blind Veterans UK spends its income by clicking here
Please help Blind Veterans UK to continue their goal to ensure that no-one who has served our country should battle blindness alone. You can sponsor the team online using this justgiving page. If you are a UK taxpayer, checking the Gift Aid option will ensure the taxman gives an extra 28p to Blind Veterans UK for each £1 you give.
Here are a couple of examples of how your donations will help…
- £30 could buy a talking watch to enable a blind person to tell the time
- £1500 could pay for a stand-alone scanner which converts documents so that they can be read aloud to the user
Your donations would mean a huge amount to the team, and act as a great source of motivation as they attempt this challenge which would be tough in any circumstances. The willpower and determination is testament to not only the individuals taking part, but also embodies the ethos of Blind Veterans UK to enable people to discover life beyond sight loss while sharing in the military camaraderie which they are so accustomed to.
Please keep checking back as we will update this page with our training progress and plenty of photos between now and June.
Thank you so much for your support.