Latest news with #sightloss
BBC News
26-05-2025
- BBC News
Sight loss charity's plea to TT riders and visitors
A sight loss charity has called for TT riders and visitors to be aware of a "heightened risk" on the island's roads for people who have a visual Matters said the increased volume of traffic "brings challenges" and urged those at the event to be "conscious of vulnerable road-users". Chief Executive Cathryn Bradley said some of the charity's members enjoyed "the vibe and the buzz" on the island during the TT races, but others felt that the best thing they could do was to stay at home, which could make it a "long two weeks".She urged drivers to take care during the event. The event could change people's orientation, as changes to routes and bus services as well as having more pedestrians, Ms Bradley said it was a "busy period" and "for safety and practical reasons we don't run the full services that we do the remainder of the year". Peter Marshall from the charity added that many of the issues that people who were visually impaired faced, particularly around the roads, were often "amplified" during the TT period. Pavement parking would impact on people's routes, he urged those with sight loss to allow double time for their charity would still be available to provide visits to those outside of the course, he said, adding it would be contactable on the phone and provide remote services such as its audio news and audio library throughout the event. Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X.
BBC News
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Blind woman to hold fashion show on Yr Wyddfa summit
"I can see that you are there, but with the light behind you, I can't see your face, it's just a blur."Tilly Dowler is describing what she can see when she looks at was registered blind in 2022 and has completely lost her central vision because of a genetic condition called Stargardt this, she has decided to climb Yr Wyddfa, also known as Snowdon, the highest mountain in Wales, with five other blind or partially sighted walkers to raise money for they reach the summit, the 26-year-old is hosting a sustainable fashion show. "We wanted to do something crazy and make people think, wow, why are they doing that?" said Tilly, who is from Castle Donington in challenge, named Sightless on Snowdon, aims to raise funds for Leicestershire-based charity Vista, which Tilly credits with supporting her through sight loss."When you're diagnosed with sight loss, it's like it's the end of the world and you panic and you think that no one is going to be there to understand or help you."At Vista, everyone understands and they are all really helpful, so I wanted to give back."They didn't only help me, they helped my mum. They got me in contact with other organisations that would help, and they are very close to my heart," she who started to lose her sight aged 15, said the charity had given her the confidence and training to use a cane. 'Trailblazer' Tilly's plan to put on a show at the top of the mountain in Wales comes from her love of pre-loved clothes shop Wanted Wardrobe in Castle Donington donates 10% of its profits to sight loss charities."We are very aware that the weather might not be great so what we're going to do is take lots of different clothes in lots of different sizes, head pieces, accessories."We're going to pop them on even if it means over our jackets and just give a little bit of a fashion show."The group of walkers are taking on the mountain on 10 June and have sighted guides to help them along the to Vista, one in five people are expected to lose their sight across the UK every year, affecting 35,500 people across Leicester, Leicestershire and Wright, CEO of Vista, said: "Tilly is a trailblazer for others living with sight loss. "We are so grateful for her ongoing support and will be supporting her all the way to the summit of Snowdon and beyond."
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Pensioner raises thousands for charity by walking 160 miles
A 72-year-old man has raised more than £2,500 for charity by planning to walk 160 miles. David, from Southampton, took on the challenge to raise money for Southampton Sight, a charity that supports people with visual impairments. The pensioner, who has glaucoma, started his journey on May 13 in Porto, Portugal, and aims to finish in Santiago, Spain, on May 25. He was joined by his brothers-in-law, Mike and Adrian, who supported him along the way. David said: "I wanted to challenge my disability and do something for my soul but more importantly I wanted to do something to help others affected by sight loss." If you would like to show your support for David, you can visit his Just Giving page at Southampton Sight has been supporting people with visual impairments for more than 125 years. The charity provides social groups, advice, and wellbeing services for people of all ages, ethnicities, and incomes. David's determination has inspired many people to donate to his cause, and he has already raised more than £2,500 for the charity.
The Independent
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Partially-sighted man to travel across UK to raise funds for Fife charity
A partially-sighted man will travel the length of Britain to mark the 160th anniversary of a Fife-based sight loss charity. Kris Baillie has been supported by Seescape for 10 years, and to repay the favour he is travelling from Shetland to Penzance in Cornwall to raise funds that will go towards helping others experiencing vision loss. The 3,200-mile journey begins on Monday, where he will set off from his home in Fife, criss-crossing the country via public transport in an effort to show the challenges partially-sighted and disabled people face in getting from one place to another. Mr Baillie, 45, will hop on ferries between Aberdeen and Shetland, as well as the UK's longest train ride from Aberdeen to Penzance. He will spend less than half an hour in Cornwall, before boarding a coach back up north to Edinburgh, via Birmingham and Leeds. His journey will finally end back in Kirkcaldy just before midnight on May 18. Since his diagnosis of partial sight loss in 2015, Kris has been supported by Seescape. Seescape is celebrating its 160th anniversary this year and has launched a 160 Challenge as part of the celebrations, and to raise extra funds. The charity supports more than 3,500 people across Fife every year who are blind or have sight loss, helping them to live independent lives through rehabilitation, advice and help with assistive technology. Mr Baillie said: 'I am very grateful to Seescape and everything they have done for me since I was diagnosed with sight loss. I wanted to help give back and celebrate their milestone anniversary. 'I wanted to take part in the 160 Challenge posed by Seescape, and my journey takes me 20 times 160 miles across the entire length of Britain. 'Public transport can sometimes be a challenge for someone with sight loss and I wanted to do this to challenge to show others that it is still possible to travel and live fully, with the right support, which is what Seescape has given me. 'I feel like I'm completing The Proclaimers song, 500 miles, but I am doing 2,500 more.' Lesley Carcary, Seescape's chief executive, said: 'We're incredibly proud of Kris and deeply touched by his determination and generosity. 'As we celebrate 160 years of service in Fife, this journey reminds us of the resilience of the people we support – and we are grateful for anyone who supports us, either through fundraising or volunteering. 'We can't wait to follow Kris's journey and support him along the way.'
BBC News
07-05-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Sudbury woman losing sight walks Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge
Woman losing sight climbs three mountains 9 minutes ago Share Save Alice Cunningham BBC News, Suffolk Share Save Contributed Dawn Blezard took on the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge for the Macular Society A woman who is losing her eyesight has climbed three mountains to encourage others to "make every minute count". Dawn Blezard, 49, from Sudbury, Suffolk, was diagnosed with Stargardt's disease following a routine eye test in 2020. It is a rare genetic condition and Mrs Blezard, a yoga teacher, has already lost all vision in her left eye with her right also deteriorating. On Saturday and Sunday she took on the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge, walking 30 miles (48km) in aid of the Macular Society, which supported her during her diagnosis. Contributed Mrs Blezard was supported by her yoga community during the challenge Mrs Blezard was joined by members of her yoga community during the walk. They set off at 08:00 BST on Saturday to take on the first mountain, Pen-y-Ghent. "I had friends either side. I can't see out of my left eye so it was facing the cliff face, they were telling me where to put my feet as I clambered up," she said. "I got halfway up and I started crying. I [felt] I was holding everybody up; I was too slow and [the team] talked me around and we carried on. "That took about seven hours, to do the first one." Contributed Mrs Blezard's husband James was unable to do the challenge due to a knee injury but met her at the end to congratulate her The team took on the other two mountains, Whernside and Ingleborough, on Sunday due to Mrs Blezard's sight issues. Due to a member of the team suffering an injury, Mrs Blezard actually walked six miles (10km) more than the challenge normally entails. However, she said she was grateful for the team's support and that the experience had been "amazing". Contributed The team and Mrs Blezard have raised over £1,500 for the Macular Society "I was absolutely exhausted. My legs were so heavy, but I was so joyful," she said. "I was feeling just how small we are when you're standing there. "Seeing the mountains and how Mother Nature is, I was just thinking, 'You've just got to do it, you've got to do whatever you want in life, and you've got to put one foot in front of the other and keep going - don't give up'. "I believe that you've got to live life and not just do life, and you've got to make every minute count." Mrs Blezard has so far raised over £1,500 for the Macular Society and is already considering walking the Norfolk coast as her next challenge. Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. More on this story Yoga teacher losing sight says it won't stop her
