Fundraising over coffee and a chat

A 97-year-old blind veteran inspired his fellow residents at the assisted accommodation where they reside to raise £350 for our charity.

Ray, from Bedworth in Warwickshire, has been the driving force behind the fundraising at his accommodation throughout 2025 after he put forward our charity to become their charity of the year.

Each week the residents come together for a coffee morning and each place £1 into the fundraising pot. Visitors also regularly place their spare change in the collection tin.

Paul, who works as a Wellbeing Support Officer for our charity, runs a social group for blind veterans in Hinchley which Ray attends. Paul was invited along earlier this year to receive a cheque for the money that had been raised. He says:

“I spent some time with the residents speaking about Blind Veterans UK and the support we offer. The group were incredibly enthusiastic and asked lots of questions. One resident told me that I’d presented living with sight loss in such a positive way and they hadn’t realised how much support was available.”

Ray

Ray completed National Service between 1947 and 1949 with the Royal Army Pay Corps as a driver. Following this Ray worked for the ambulance service for 37 years, first as a driver and then as a station officer. 

During the Second World War, Ray lost the sight in his right eye while working in a munitions factory.

It was in 2010 that the sight in Ray’s left eye began to deteriorate as a result of glaucoma. In 2020, Ray was registered severely sight impaired. He is now only able to see in black and white and detect movement. He says:

“I’m so grateful to have discovered Blind Veterans UK and have been supported by the charity since 2020. They have been very very good to me and have provided me with equipment such as a phone and a magnifier that have made a huge difference.”