President Les goes lakeside to support a worthy cause

No Reids lunch venue these days, so the annual President’s Blindfold Walk for Orbis needed a new route this year. Instead of previous traditional walks from the Stock Road Health Clinic car park, along the High Street and then to Reids, it was, instead, a walk in the park. 

Or, as usual, a Walk in the Dark despite the weather for the planned day of October 13 being pleasantly unseasonal as we gathered at the familiar starting point, in the relatively warm morning sunshine. Not that you are aware of sunshine when blindfolded. My trusty guides were Peter Strong and Ed Harrison, plus Peter Greene recorded the event for posterity.

Looping The Lake

I had mapped out a one mile plus stroll down Lake Avenue into Lake Meadows, looping around the lake and then out via Hillhouse Drive to finish at Christ Church community café. 

A double-layer cotton covid mask worn over eyes and nose rather than nose and mouth was a very effective blindfold, so with this in place the walk began. For the next forty minutes or so I was guided up and down kerbs, around corners over a variety of surfaces in almost total darkness, with the occasional pause for a photo opportunity.

Gangland Abduction

The absence of visual input increased the awareness of other senses and, for example, I was able to detect the difference between walking in the open and walking under the trees by the noticeable drop in warmth detected on my hands and face.

After five or ten minutes my brain, deprived of visual input, began to invent things and at one point when told to walk forward it felt like I was being asked to step through a brick wall.

At least two people recognised me despite the blindfold and have since asked why I was being escorted through Lake Meadows by two men in high-viz jackets. It probably looked like a gangland abduction!
Eventually we arrived at our destination and I was able to remove my mask, having briefly experienced what it is like to be without sight.

Joyous Result

It was a delight to see what was around me once again, and easily do whatever I wanted without feeling my way or needing guidance from others. I can only imagine how much more joyous it must be for someone who has suffered impaired vision for a much longer time to have their sight restored by a doctor trained by Orbis.
Thanks to everybody who sponsored me. The event raised £230 for Orbis, with an extra £57.50 of Gift Aid.

Fiona Lyons, our contact at ORBIS UK and Senior Fundraising Officer there,  responded to our donation as follows:  “Oh wow, this is fantastic.  On behalf of everyone at Orbis UK, thank you so much for holding this year’s President’s blindfolded walk on our behalf once again.  It is fantastic that Les Sheppard received nearly £300 in sponsorship for his ‘Walk in the Dark’