Blinded By Sun In The Park

The annual President’s Blindfold Walk for Orbis has had to move from its traditional routes from the Stock Road Health Clinic car park, along the High Street and then to Reids, but with Reids no longer our HQ, it was, instead, a walk in the park. 

The walk is usually performed by our club president but this year president Michael Ginn does not have the mobility to complete the challenge so our president-elect stepped up and took on the task.  This is his report.

Give Me Sunshine! (apologies to Morecombe & Wise)

Amazingly the morning of Thursday 24th November had no rain but sunshine, not that you are aware of sunshine when blindfolded ..... so having finished planting crocus corms for End Polio Now, we took advantage of the pleasant weather to complete the annual one-mile blindfold walk in aid of Orbis the “Seeing Charity”.

The crocus team all had their Rotary tabards and agreed to support my walk around Lake Meadows.  Roger reports “Peter Greene provided a mask and with vision cut off, secretary Brian Wellman took my arm and we set off like a married couple.

Brian was very good at guiding me and informing when were about to turn right or left or when to stop, but rather let himself down as a guide dog by telling me we had left the park and were now in Hillhouse Drive - - and to watch out for the traffic!   We weren’t of course, we were still in Lake Meadows.

A gentle route around the lake in the park, then back down to the pavilion and round the boundaries of the park until we arrived back at our starting point – just over 1 mile later.

Impressed

Roger said “It was fun of course, but it really came home to me how much blind people do need, and do rely on, trusted family or friends or the faithful guide dog. Like all of us, I have got up in the middle of the night when pitch dark and not put the lights on to avoid waking Sarah but because I know the house, no real problems finding my way to wherever. However outside and in the expanse of different routes and paths round Lake Meadows, I quickly became dis-orientated and completely relied on Brian’s guiding hand.”

He went on to say “I have met and do know some blind people, and without exception have been impressed with their attitude to everything.  Now, having done the blind walk I am even more impressed as to how they have overcome their disadvantages .........and just how lucky I am to have all my senses.”

“Thank you for supporting the Orbis Walk and your contribution is certainly going to a good cause.”
He was right, the sponsorship is all in and has been counted.  After adding in Gift Aid and GlobalGiving’s “Giving Tuesday” Bonus, we have collected a grand total of nearly £400 for ORBIS (£392.88).