Why Sky Dive?

On 28th May 2023 I will be fulfilling a life-long ambition to Sky Dive - leaping 8,000 feet from a plane, travelling at speeds of up 150 miles per hour towards the earth below.

Some people may ask why – my reply would be why not!

My sight loss means I won’t be able to judge the distance or see where I’m going but I will still get the same rush from the wind zooming past me.

Since loosing my sight and becoming a member of Blind Veterans UK, I’ve learnt the importance of grabbing any opportunity that comes you way that can help you get the most from life. My recent terminal diagnosis has only underlined this further.

Why fundraise for Blind Veterans UK?

In 2000 I noticed there was a problem with my sight. I was working as a driver at the time and realised I couldn’t tell where the side of the road was. I went to the opticians and the hospital and discovered I had Amblyopia - a hereditary eye condition that causes a breakdown in how the brain and eye work together.

My eyesight gradually deteriorated and in 2011 I was registered blind. I took the news really badly. I couldn’t see the point in living and was in a really dark place.

I joined Blind Veterans UK in 2012 and that all changed.

The charity offers support to any veteran (for those who don’t know, I served 9 years in the Light Infantry as a bugler, a driver and a rifleman in Germany and Gibraltar) regardless of how or when thy lost their sight. They provide rehabilitation, equipment and opportunities to rekindle old hobbies and interests or discover new ones.

They provided me with the training and equipment I needed to help me overcome the barriers of sight loss and carry out everyday tasks I would have previously taken for granted. The team at their Brighton Centre introduced me to photography and helped me learn how to get around the impacts of my sight loss.

Help me support other blind veterans

Giving back is important to me and I have tried to do my bit to support other blind veterans where I can.

With a group of my fellow blind veterans, I helped organise and deliver photography weeks at the centres, passing on my experience to others. I have also acted as photographer at Blind Veterans UK events which has got me out and about.

I credit the charity with saving my life. Blind Veterans UK helped me to realise there is life after sight loss. I began to accept blindness and the support I received from my peers and the staff was a huge thing for me and still is. You are never alone which is particularly important to me right now.

Helping with the photography weeks and the photograph events used to be my way of paying back to the charity that has helped me so much but I’m not able to do that anymore so this parachute jump is my way of saying thank you.

I’m so grateful for the opportunity to take on this challenge and to give back to a charity that has done so much for me.

How you can support my challenge

I hope the parachute jump will raise money for Blind Veterans UK, to enable other blind veterans like myself to regain their independence, identity and sense of purpose. Any amount you can give will make a huge difference.

You can also support my challenge by sharing this page on your social media channels using the buttons below.

You might like to consider taking on your own challenge or organising a fundraising activity to ensure vital funds are raised for years to come. Visit the website for ideas Fundraise for us - Blind Veterans UK.

Thank you for your support.