A blind veteran from Swansea is travelling around Wales only using public buses and sleeping in a tent along the route to raise money for Blind Veterans UK, the national charity for vision impaired ex-Service men and women.
Tony Gale, 60, will be joined by fellow Army veteran and friend Dai, who is 74, for the challenge which will see them travelling nearly 500 miles using their bus passes. Both men attend the Swansea Veterans Hub together and are also raising money for the hub.
Tony says:
“Planning the challenge has been a mission in itself; we had a 37-page bus timetable to look through and it was complicated to work out our route and timings.
“We are setting off from the Swansea Veterans Hub on 19 March and hope to complete the route and be back at the Hub by 10am on 22 March in time for our weekly meet up.
“We’ll be carrying enough food and supplies including a tent and sleeping bag to last us for six days just in case we miss any buses!
“People may think I’m crazy, but I want to show what a blind person can do and how, with rehabilitation from Blind Veterans UK, I’ve been able to get back my independence and navigate around.”
Public transport can often pose challenges for the blind and the visually impaired, so Tony is interested to see what he finds while completing the challenge.
“It’ll be great to feedback to the bus companies following my challenge on what I have discovered and if there is anything that didn’t go quite to plan.”
Dai and Tony served together in the Army. Tony joined the Parachute Regiment at 16 and underwent basic training in Aldershot but he suffered an injury to his ankle which meant he was unable to complete the jumps and therefore transferred to the Royal Regiment of Wales.
During his 15-year service, Tony undertook three tours in Northern Ireland, served in the Falklands for eight months and spent three years in Hong Kong.
Tony was diagnosed with diabetic retinopathy in both eyes. He now has no vision in his left eye and very little in his right.
He says:
“I was really deflated before I found Blind Veterans UK, I wasn’t sure what my life would look like. I hadn’t left the house for five months but with the support and rehabilitation of the charity, I’m now back in the right frame of mind and this has got me through.
“Last year I had my toes amputated and this put me off walking but I was again supported by the charity and now I am ready to take on this challenge to say thank you.
“I know now that I can still do anything I put my mind to but I may just need adaptations. I want to be able to put my own tent up during this challenge so have added different colour pegs so I know where to put the different colour guy ropes and have added glow tabs on the zips.”
During Tony’s challenge he’ll be passing through Swansea, Carmarthen, Haverfordwest, Fishguard, Aberaeron, Aberystwyth, Llandudno, Welshpool, Osweatry, Mold, Cardiff, Bridgend and Porthcawl.
He says:
“If you see myself and Dai on route please do stop and say hello and give us a boost.”
Tony and Dai are hoping to raise £5,000 to be spilt between Blind Veterans UK and Swansea Veterans Hub. If you would like to help them reach their target, please visit his fundraising page: gofundme.com/f/dai-tonys-fundraising-bus-journey-around-wales
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
