Living without your eye-sight is something most of us never have to contemplate.  However, for some veterans it is a very real challenge, having lost their sight through natural causes or in the line of duty.

Ginny Flek who works in our Technical team has a nephew, Alan Lock, who was in the Royal Navy but lost his sight through macular degeneration.  He didn’t let this hinder his ambitions and has achieved some amazing feats to raise money for other blind veterans. He has walked to the North Pole, climbed to the top of Everest, rowed across the Atlantic and run the Marathon des Sables…. most of us would be lucky to even think about doing one of those things!

He is now doing a 75km run over five days to raise money for blind ex-service men and women in these troubled times.  If you could spare some money to help sponsor him he would be extremely grateful.  COVID has added a whole layer of isolation on top of the already incredibly isolating experience of being blind.  Alan is running 75km with his guide runners from RAF Shawbury this week – before Remembrance Day.  For every £5 he raises he will be able to help another blind veteran.

Here is a message from Alan (the main image shows Alan on another fund raising run and one from his Royal Navy days):

“2020 has been a pretty tough year for us all, but for our elderly blind veterans it has been even more challenging. Prolonged physical isolation has been added to the inherent isolation of sight loss.  Getting together with their old comrades on Remembrance Day has always been a highlight of our veterans’ calendars, but obviously this year they will be unable to attend events.

As a younger blind veteran, I wanted to do something both to support their care and ensure they don’t feel forgotten.  As such, the week before Remembrance Day I’ll be running a total of 75km with my guide runners from RAF Shawbury.  We are trying to raise £5,000 to make a real difference to the 1,000 most vulnerable veterans.  It will enable us to send each of them a special ‘Victory Over Blindness’ pin badge and an accessible message of fellowship, plus fund virtual events to combat loneliness.

I appreciate these are challenging times, but if you are able to support me in this endeavour you will be making a real impact.  Remember, every £5 we raise enables us to help one more blind veteran.

Please see my JustGiving page link below and, of course, please feel free to share the link with your contacts”:  https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/blindveterans75