A LOCAL RAF veteran who himself went blind overnight six years ago has helped raise over £2,000 for Blind Veterans UK by collecting at Rothersthorpe Services.
Peter O’Malley manned an information table with collecting boxes to not only raise vital funds but also so raise awareness of the charity and what it can do to ex-servicemen and women who are blind or vision impaired.
Thanks to the generosity of visitors to the M1 services over the course of two weeks, Peter was able to announce a total of £2,394.
“People were very generous but what was more important was that so many people stopped to speak to us,” said Peter. “There are so many people out there, veterans from all the armed services who suffer from blindness and who don’t know what help is at hand. It doesn’t matter when their sight problems happen, if they are ex-servicepeople they can get help and advice from Blind Veterans UK.
“There are some two and a half million veterans in the UK and it is estimated that around 60,000 could be suffering some sight problems, and they all fall under the umbrella of Blind Veterans UK. Discovering that you have lost your sight is devastating and the charity can help in practical ways – such as safety features for the home or white stick training – or in offering support to the blind person and their families as they learn to cope.
“The charity can make a massive difference to people’s lives, and I want to raise awareness so that as many people as possible get the help they need.”
To continue his work with Blind Veterans UK, Peter is hoping to complete a parachute jump with the Red Devils in the summer. He’s also encouraging local businesses to take a collection box to help raise money for this important cause.
To find out more about Blind Veterans UK, which was formerly known as St Dunstans, visit www.blindveterans.org.uk