Updated on Jan 1st 2013 at 1:43 AM from the JustGiving API

Happy New Year one and all

I have 'Finally Seen Sense' and am hanging up my boots!  Please help me raise funds for this wonderfull Charity!

Update 13 Nov 12

Today a number of my friends and colleagues are celebrating Diwali. A Hindu festival that celebrate light conquering over darkness. It would, therefore seem fitting to give the scores on the doors for the Fundraising for Blind Veterans UK and our little contribution to conquering darkness:)

The response has been huge and I cannot thank you enough for your generosity!

We have raised: 
* £4,875 from donations / sponsorship
* £798 from Gift Aid
* £1,290 from matched giving from my company

So the total raised for Blind Veterans UK is an amazing £6,963

Thanks to everyone who has donated, to Braintreerugbyclub Bar and Braintree Rufc IV's for their support (350 quid raised there) to Christy for helping with the shirts and of course toMack's Barbershop for the wonderful hair cut !!

If you want to see pictures or updates or are still planning to donate, please visithttps://www.justgiving.com/ianslack 

Thank you so much and Happy Diwali!

Ian 

xx

 

 

Update 1 Nov 12

 

A long long time ago (about 35 yrs ago) in a land far far away (Warrington) a scrawny red haired kid moved schools and was selected to play rugby for the school ... Not quite the start of my rugby career but my first decent memories.

As a welcome to my new school we had TB jabs and the scabs were just starting to harden. The cotton reversible strips we had were just rough enough to pull at the scab and the changing room entertainment was to dead arm the scab. It took a long time to heal! I was selected to play fullback, because I could catch and run in those days (No really I could). Unfortunately our missing link prop Alistair Lomas (if I recall) quite liked my position as he could lean against the posts and smoke (I may have made that up but don't think so). Lomas was huge and good at dead arms! I believe we won that first match, largely due to my replacement full back ... Every so often Al would walk down the pitch to score, trailing a collection of opposition players like a marauding King Kong!

 

 

On Wed I played my last game, for the Stock Exchange against Herbet Smith! It was in the middle of no where, on a rain soaked floodlit pitch. The rugby was fast and very hard with a team who had not played together before. The rucks were brutal and penalty rich. We dominated the scrum and had backs with winged heals . . . Unfortunately we lost by 2 points after a final 50 yard penalty hit the posts but a great time was had by all. Three guys left the pitch with blackened, blood shot eyes!

 

I am sad to go and will still stay involved in the sport. I know no one believe I will retire and perhaps I will make the odd cameo on special occasions but that is me done:(

 

To all the players, in all the clubs and all the countries, I have been fortunate to play with, Thank You! Lots of memories, scars and good friends.

To all of you who have donated!  Many Many Thanks!

We have raised a huge sum for http://blindveterans.org.uk    and will make a huge difference to the lives of many people. I will tally up over the coming week and let you know the final score

 

 

 

For my background see below or check out

 

 

Thank You!

 

Ian / Slacky

 

 

The back story . . .

In 1997 I was medically discharged from the Army, having lost the sight in my right eye.  I was fortunate and still had half my sight and have had a great life, every since with a wonderful family, great mates and a really active life!  I had never considered my monocular sight to be an issue, that is, until I injured my good eye...

In May, whilst playing rugby, I picked up a rare infection in my left eye and spent the best part of a month all but blind!  To be frank, this scared the crap out of me!  I couldn't read, write, watch TV, use the computer, drive or work and I realized how different my life would have been if I hadn't been so lucky in' 97.  

It was then that I discovered Blind Veterans UK.  This charity, formally known as St Dunstan's helps veterans who have lost their sight in service and after and provides much needed support and care to help them cope with blindness.  I will post more about their wonderful work in coming weeks!

That being said, I still didn't get the message, until 29 Sep 2012, when I was caught by a stray hand to the eye in a ruck* and I have 'Finally Seen Sense' !  Therefore, and with great sadness, after 38 years on the park, I have decided to hang up my boots!  However . . .

The Appeal . . .

I want to take this opportunity to help those who haven't been as fortunate as me and have had to cope with sight loss as a result of or following service.  As the tag line says "No one who has served their country should have to battle blindness alone!"  

I would like to appeal to you to support this quest and help me raise as much as possible for this great charity!  

The Events . . .

I will be making three final cameo appearances playing for three separate teams and rattling the tin in the bar during my final playing month.  If you can't come along and donate (or even if you can) please sponsor me in my retirement month and help make a difference:

-  6 Oct Braintree IVs v Halstead Templar's

-  27 Oct Braintree Mean Machine II against Brentwood, and;

-  31 Oct The London Stock Exchange against Herbert Smith

Ping me if you want details!

As if you need further incentive, I will also be cultivating the nastiest facial fuzz my lack of hair permits (but clearly not a Mo) during the October.  The lovely Em at Mack's Barbershop in Braintree will be weaving her magic with dye and clippers for the final week

How to Donate . . .

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. 

Many thanks for taking the time to visit and donate and look out for further updates and pictures.  I will try to do you proud :)

Slacky

* For the avoidance of doubt, my sight is fine now (well in my left eye at least) just a couple of scares that have ensure I have Finally Seen Sense :)