Wayne’s Story

"I’ve Got This - Failing Is Not A Option”

On 4th May I will be taking part in the Worthing 10k – an epic run along the seafront, starting and finishing next to the famous Worthing Pier.

This challenge is important to me for so many reasons;

Commemorating and supporting my fellow veterans:

This challenge takes place a few days before a significant date for many of my fellow veterans – VE Day. Blind Veterans UK (the charity I am fundraising for while completing this challenge) has supported many of those service men and women involved in securing Victory in Europe. I am proud that the funds I raise while completing this challenge will be used to ensure veterans like them - and all those who followed - will continue to receive life changing support.

A personal milestone:

Signing up for this challenge is a testament to how far I have come since beginningmy sight loss journey. I was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa and retinal dystrophy in both eyes in September 2022. For those who are not familiar with these conditions they affect the retina – a light sensitive layer of tissue at the back of the eye that sends information to the brain to help us interpret what we see. These conditions progress over time and can affect vision in a number of ways such as night blindness, trouble adjusting to light changes or dim light, trouble seeing colours and narrowed peripheral vision. In short, they stop you from being able to create a clear and exact picture of your surroundings.

A chance to give back:

Things were life changing when I first received my diagnosis – I lost my confidence and sense of purpose and many exterior aspects of my life changed immediately upon walking out of the consultants office.

I was in tears, my life turned upside down, not knowing how to digest what I had just been told.

I now knew I had a life changing degenerative eye disease with no cure. I was no longer fit to drive and medically diagnosed Blind!!! I just didn’t understand how I would go forward. The life I had been living now required adaptation for the foreseeable future.

Point Zero:

The person I had been before now required an adaptive way of going forward into the future – this is what I called “Point Zero Day One! “

The Navy

During my time in the Navy - I served four and a half years as an Able Seaman Warfare Specialist aboard HMS Chatham and HMS Monmouth – I always liked to be fit and particular enjoyed running. Whilst Serving I always had a exemplary fitness level of which I was very proud.

Life Expererinces with Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP)

My visual impairment made me feel less confident and safe about taking part in my usual day to day activities and other aspects of my life I enjoyed doing. My fitness raining now needed to be adapted and assessed for my confidence to regain its potential. The usual car schools run now became a safety walking route for me and the children, when my Wife is at work. I now needed to be super observant more than usual to which over time since my diagnosis has been progressing at a continual pace. Everything in life now had to be reconsidered to which can be difficult and challenging at times and also consuming my energy. The residual sight I retain centrally overworks itself to which can create immense fatigue and stress at times. I could not just let life stop upon diagnosis.

Blind Veterans UK

In August 2022 I discovered Blind Veterans UK. This charity provides rehabilitation, training, equipment and support to veterans who are living with sight loss. In the short time I have been part of the organisation I have received support an equipment supporting my running and everyday activities with specially adapted Yellow Tinted Prescrition Glasses, with finding ways to overcome the difficulties presented by my visual impairment that have helped with everyday tasks I previously took for granted such as Walking, Running, Socialising and everyday home life.

While staying at their Rustington Centre I was asked to share examples of things I would like to achieve that I felt may not be achievable with my sight loss. I shared my dream to take part in the London Marathon and beyond!!!

The wellbeing team offered to support my aspirations by helping me train and prepare for the Worthing 10k, with a view to me progressing my fitness to take part in the London Marathon with other blind veterans in 2026 and beyond into the future. They could see how engaging with running was giving me back my confidence, sense of purpose and allowing me to feel like the person I was before sight loss.

Blind Veterans UK has in short has given me back my independence and freedom to be the person I want to be. As a result I would like to use my journey of preparing for and taking on this challenge as an opportunity to give back to them, in order to ensure others can receive the support I have.

How you can help

I want to help ensure other veterans like me can be supported by Blind Veterans UK for years to come and you can help me do that in the following ways;

Make a donation via my page – all funds go directly to the charity.

Share my story by sharing this Just Giving page on your social media channels.

Follow me on social media and share my posts about my progress and the support. I’ve received from Blind Veterans UK to help raise awareness. The charity supports thousands of veterans across the UK – there are thousands more out there who could benefit from their help who may not know they are there for them.

Get involved! There are lots of ways you can support Blind Veterans UK. Find out more on their website www.blindveterans.org.uk/support

Thank you for taking the time to read my story.