Guide Dogs
Odd Shoes Day
Andy Johnson, nicknamed Roo, and his family are challenging schools and nurseries to organise an Odd Shoes Day to raise money for Guide Dogs this World Sight Day - Thursday 10 October.
Story
Have you ever gone out wearing shoes that don’t match?
Hi, I'm Andy Johnson - or Roo to most people, a blind dad from Pwllheli. When I accidentally sent my youngest child to nursery in odd shoes, it made people chuckle – and sparked a clever fundraising idea.
I'm a watersports instructor born with retinal dystrophy, leaving me with just five per cent vision. I recently turned to Guide Dogs for help and I'm now raising money for the charity by inviting other parents to send their children to school or nursery in odd shoes for World Sight Day on October 10.
Eight schools and nurseries, most on the Llŷn Peninsula, have already signed up, with parents encouraged to make a £1 donation to Guide Dogs for each child who takes part in the fun. I'm spreading the word via his social media accounts, which I run under the name ‘The Blind Watersports Dad’.
I want to show everyone that being blind doesn’t change who you are. Sending four-year-old Oakey to nursery in odd shoes was a complete accident, and my wife Danni didn’t even notice until they got to the gates! We’re hoping it won’t be too long before I’m matched with a guide dog who loves the beach, but in the meantime I want to raise awareness of the charity and give something back.
Myself and my wife Danni run Abersoch Hydro together, and recently welcomed a group of young children with sight loss to try water sports such as kayaking, paddle boarding and sailing.
“This was not only giving them confidence, but also showing them they can do anything. We also hosted a group of people from Blind Veterans UK and would like to do more of this in future.”
Our plan is to spend time in school on World Sight Day with Oakey and his big brother Finley, eight, so that we can share our experiences of sight loss with classmates.
Please support my fundraising efforts by signing up your school or nursery for a JustGiving fundraising page and helping me raise even more life-changing donations to support people with sight loss. Guide Dogs will then provide you with the fundraising advice and support you need including how to set up a QR code for your page for cashless giving on the day. Alternatively, you can email their Schools & Youth fundraising team directly at learning@guidedogs.org.uk