26 mile Armed Forces Month walk

A blind veteran has organised a 26-mile walk along the Gower coast on 2 June in response to our Armed Forces Month campaign, which calls on people to organise activities to celebrate and commemorate key dates in the month of June while raising vital funds to support our work. 

Blind veteran Phil

Phil, 61 and from Swansea, lost his sight in 2020 due to the hereditary condition retinitis pigmentosa. He says:

“I was stuck in my house for three and a half years. I knew my sight loss was coming but when it went downhill rapidly, I became incredibly depressed. Everything I’d worked for I had to give up and I could no longer drive. I went from having everything to nothing in a few months and then the Covid pandemic hit; I saw that as a sign and just didn’t go anywhere. I lost my independence and my motivation.

“Luckily for me, my optician asked if I’d been in the military and told me about Blind Veterans UK. They have showed me the way and made a real difference to my life.” 

Support of a ROVI

Phil began receiving support his local team in 2023 including Sam who is a Rehabilitation Officer for the Visually Impaired (ROVI). 

ROVIs provide specialist assessment, training and advice to people who are visually impaired to help them live independently. Phil says:

“Sam has been incredible; he introduced me to my cane and has built up my confidence to get out and about. I now catch the bus on my own and walk as far as I can which is usually five miles along the promenade. 

“But I wanted to really challenge myself so with the support of Sam by my side, we’ll be going off road for this fundraiser. It’ll be full of different terrains that I’m not used to. I can’t see past the end of my cane; I have no sense of direction so this will be not only physically but also mentally exhausting for me. I will have to concentrate carefully on every single step I take and listen to all the information Sam is giving to me." 

Comradeship

Phil says that all of our staff go above and beyond to get the blind veterans involved and to ensure they feel part of something. He says:

"There is always someone phoning to check in on you and I’ve been provided with equipment such a magnifier so I can read my own mail. In the Army it is all about comradeship and Blind Veterans UK gives that same sense of belonging.” 

Phil joined the Army straight from school in 1980 and served as an apprenticeship carpenter but after being diagnosed with his eye condition, he was medically discharged after three years. 

Phil's ROVI, Sam, says:

“When I first met Phil, he was unable to travel independently around his local area and relied on his family when getting around. He required skills that would enable him to feel safe and confident." 

Phil and Sam began working together on short routes around his local park and eventually started branching into unfamiliar areas. With the use of the long cane and the skills Phil had learnt, Sam says he soon felt confident with asking for support and relying on his own skills to walk longer and more complicated routes. Sam says:

“Phil has proved that sight loss does not prevent you from reaching your potential. He’s met stumbling blocks on the way but has always found solutions to meeting his goals. It will be an honour to take part in this walk with Phil. I feel that I have learnt so much in the short time we have worked together and looking forward to the challenge and what the next one will be.” 

You can support Phil with his fundraising: