Staff, volunteers and veterans from Blind Veterans UK, the national charity for vision-impaired ex-Service men and women, braved the rain to complete a fundraising War Memorial Walk in Llandudno marking the launch of the charity’s Planning to Remember Campaign.
The group set off for the four-mile walk from the charity’s Centre of Wellbeing and arrived at the Llandudno War Memorial for a moment of reflection at 11am on October 20.
Walkers from the charity were joined by representatives from Conwy County Sea Cadets and students and staff from the Military Preparation College of Training in Bangor and Wrexham.
Students from the college took the lead at the service which included Welsh and English recitals of a poem from Hedd Wynn and the laying of a wreath alongside blind veteran and volunteer for the charity Jonathan Westerby.
The ‘Planning to Remember’ campaign encourages individuals and groups to organise activities between 20 October and 12 November to ensure the fallen and those left behind are not forgotten, while also fundraising to support blind veterans.
Community Engagement Lead for the Llandudno Centre, Rosina Hearne said:
“Remembrance is a poignant time for all at Blind Veterans UK and for many in the wider community. The walk was a great opportunity for our veterans to come together with a younger generation to mark the start of the charity’s Remembrance activities.
“We were thrilled with the enthusiasm of the students from the Military Preparation College and of the Sea Cadets in supporting this event despite the wet and windy weather.”
You can show your support to the group, by visiting their Just Giving page to make a donation justgiving.com/page/walktoremember
Are you, a group, or someone you know planning to mark Remembrance in your community? Sign up to Blind Veterans UK’s ‘Planning to Remember’ campaign and find ideas for what you could do in your own community. Alternatively contact the Community Partnerships team to find out how you can get involved in fundraising around Remembrance or other key dates on fundraising@blindveterans.org.uk
If you would like to mark Remembrance with Blind Veterans UK, the Llandudno Centre of Wellbeing will be holding an Act of Remembrance followed by a coffee morning on Saturday November 11 from 10am to 12pm. Members of the public are invited to join Blind Veterans UK for this event. Admission is free and there is no need to book. The event provides a great opportunity to view the Llandudno Centre’s poppy field – a display of knitted poppies within the grounds.
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
