Small steps and giant leaps
If you've ever wondered how much of a difference your support makes, read Stuart's story.
When he completed the South Coast Ultra last September, it marked the end of an extraordinary first year with Blind Veterans UK. He said, “I’ve been given the opportunity to have my life again.”
For Stuart, 51, completing the South Coast Ultra felt nothing short of a miracle. When he first came to us a year earlier, he couldn’t make himself a cup of coffee. A former sapper in the Royal Engineers, Stuart suffered a catastrophic respiratory arrest a few years after being medically discharged from service. By the time he was resuscitated, his brain had been starved of oxygen, leaving him without sight.
Stuart went on to spend three years in hospital, initially in an induced coma. “Three years is a long time to have been out of the world," he says. “When I discovered that my sight loss was not fixable, I had two choices: not having a life, or taking life by the horns.” Stuart chose the latter.
What a year it’s been!
He has scuba-dived, climbed, abseiled, gone white water rafting, learned to cook again, driven a car around Brands Hatch, and even taken up horse riding.
In preparation for the South Coast Ultra, Stuart joined a special training week at our Rustington Centre, building his fitness and resilience for the mammoth challenge ahead. He knew it would be tough, but he was determined to finish - “even if I have to crawl over the line on my hands and knees.”
As his first year as a blind veteran draws to a close, Stuart is proud of how far he’s come in such a short time.
Stuart's epic 57km walk has raised over £7,000 for our charity, with donations still coming in. “The support I’ve had from Blind Veterans UK has been nothing short of phenomenal. I’ve achieved so much, and I want to give back to the charity.”
We can't wait to see what Stuart does next!
“I proved to myself that sight loss is not going to stop me living my life.”
Find out more about how your support changes lives.
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