A group of nine blind veterans joined together to complete the South Coast Ultra Challenge in Sussex to raise money for Blind Veterans UK, the national charity for vision-impaired ex-Service men and women, which has supported them following sight loss.
On 7 September the team set off together from Eastbourne to walk a range of distances from 25km to 100km. For those who completed the furthest distance, the finish line was in Arundel and the first blind veteran to cross it finished in just 20 hours and 30 minutes.
The groups aim has been to raise awareness of the support offered by Blind Veterans UK, in particular the impact of experiences like the rehabilitation weeks offered at the charity’s centres in Rustington, West Sussex and Llandudno in North Wales.
Ahead of the challenge, five of the group spent time at the Rustington Centre for one such week, building up their fitness and resilience to ready themselves for the mammoth task ahead of them.
During that week they completed a range of training walks including 21km from the Rustington Centre to Angmering Park Estate and 29km from Shoreham to Bignor. The week gave them confidence for the challenge and experience of the varying terrains they will encounter.
The conditions the walkers faced during the South Coast Ultra were not what they would have hoped for, two days of heavy rain prior to the walk meant that the ground was extremely muddy which added an extra layer of difficulty to the already gruelling challenge.
Due to this, many of the veterans completed different distances to what they originally set out to achieve with many already planning to come back and take on the challenge again next year.
Blind veteran Wayne Perry, 65 and from Rugby in Warwickshire was one of three who completed the 100km distance. He said:
“I used to walk this kind of distance while in the Army but had not done anything like this since losing my sight. It was tough but worthwhile. My feet are a bit shredded and my muscles are tired but it was fantastic and I hope to be back again next year.
“I finished in 24 hours and 30 minutes and would like to go faster next time. The terrain was extremely hard though due to the mud. Not only were we facing the hills but it was slippery underfoot which was physically and mentally draining. We were trying to keep our balance and as visually impaired walkers, we were starring so hard at the ground to keep our footing.
“Blind Veterans UK is a special charity as it understands veterans and our needs. The charity gives us the confidence and supports us to take on challenges regardless of our age.
“At the age of 65, to take on and conquer 100km, is a very proud moment for me. I want to thank Blind Veterans UK as without them, I wouldn’t have done this.”
Blind veteran Ian Summers, 44, and from the Isle of Wight had originally planned to hike 57km from Eastbourne to Hove Park but retired after completing 25km.
He says:
“The mud was shocking and it made it so much more difficult than any of us could have anticipated. I spoke to one walker who said this had been the toughest ultra they had ever done and for me it was my first!”
Ian enlisted into the Army in 2002, at 22 years old. He served for four years with the 2nd Battalion Royal Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment and carried out tours in Iraq, Kuwait and Northern Ireland.
In 2017, Ian lost his sight after he choked at home while eating dinner with his family. He says:
“My brain was starved of oxygen which has resulted in severe sight loss. A simple everyday activity changed my life overnight.”
Ian’s mobility and speech were also affected and he has had to learn to walk and talk again making his commitment to the challenge even more incredible.
Earlier this year Ian organised a 6km fundraising walk on the Isle of Wight to raise money for our charity but this time round he added to that distance. He says:
“The bimble I organised got me excited to try new challenges and this time I was alongside my fellow blind veterans which is a huge motivator. The week I spent at the charity’s Rustington Centre made me feel much more prepared.”
The blind veterans were not alone for the challenge, each veteran had a guide alongside them, many of whom were members of staff from the charity.
Glynis Gillam, who supports the charity’s working age members and acted as one of the guides for the event says: “Everyone at the charity is so proud of all nine of our blind veterans who faced this challenge. They have not only raised an incredible amount of money in support of the charity, but they have pushed themselves to achieve something they may not have thought possible.
“The muddy terrain was incredibly tough but our veterans never moaned and I would like to say a huge thank you to the event organisers who did an incredible job and were so supportive to us throughout, checking in to make sure all the veterans were ok.”
The team of nine Members are jointly fundraising for Blind Veterans UK. They have already surpassed their £600 target – the equivalent of the cost of a rehab week stay at the charity’s Rustington Centre – enabling other veterans in the future to benefit from these weeks and participate in events like this one.
There is still time to support them by visiting their Just Giving page. Justgiving.com/page/bvus-ultra24
If you are part of a group or an organisation and would like to take on a challenge for Blind Veterans UK visit the charity’s website: blindveterans.org.uk/fundraise
Blind Veterans UK supports thousands of blind veterans across the country, but knows there are many thousands more who still need its support to rebuild their lives after sight loss.
If you, or someone you know, served in the Armed Forces, including National Service, and are now struggling with sight loss, then please get in touch. Call 0800 389 7979 or visit blindveterans.org.uk/gethelp
