The first ever Black Country Blindfold Walk took place on Saturday 7July through the Northway Road in Sedgley to help the public understand and experience living with sight loss. The event was organised by Beacon which also raised vital funds via donations and sponsorship.
Participants joined volunteers and staff at the starting line at the Beacon Centre on Wolverhampton Road East and walked down Northway Road in pairs, with one partner guiding the other blindfolded. Once they reached the halfway point they switched places and returned to the centre for some well-deserved break.
The event was hosted by Beacon to help shine a light on the challenges those living with sight loss face every day.
Arwyn Jones, CEO at Beacon Centre, took part in the walk and said: “I would like to thank everyone who joined us and those who organised the challenge. The event was a huge hit and attracted lots of attention. We had families, friends and colleagues all joining in and the brilliant weather topped it all off.”
The charity is also raising awareness of the problems faced by visually impaired people on footpaths up and down the country. The route included obstacles, such as wheele-bins and roadwork signs, to help participants learn how to navigate obstructions while remaining safe.
Peter Moorhead, another participant, added: “I knew the challenge would not be easy. However, the obstacles raised a much bigger challenge than I expected. Walking or guiding someone around a wheelie bin may seem simple enough, but when you’re on a narrow path with a road next to you it can be daunting. The experience has really made me rethink the way I behave and how my everyday actions can affect others – it was a humbling experience.”
All the money raised from the event will help make a difference for people with sight loss.
Representatives, from Northway Action Group for Road Safety, also attended and said: “We have been campaigning about road safety on the Northway Road for a number of years now. The Blindfold Walk once again highlights how important road safety is and how the action of drivers and failure to maintain verges and trim back foliage on footpaths can affect not only other drivers but pedestrians as well.”
Ranjit Boparai, who lives with Retinitis pigmentosa, added: “I know first-hand the amazing work Beacon does. I developed my condition in my mid-thirties, before that I never considered my vision as an issue, but the harsh reality is that sight loss can hit any of us at any time. This event has helped many people appreciate what others live with and has hopefully given people a brief insight into the lives of others.”