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Blindfold Walk in Beccles

Organised by the Beccles & District Lions Club and Observatory the Opticians & Hearing Care in Beccles, the walk’s aim was to draw attention to the challenges that blind and vision impaired people face and overcome every day.

Among those taking part was Beccles mayor Councillor Colin Hill, who said, “It was frightening. I was really frightened. I had someone directing me but if I had to do it on my own without anybody, I’d have been in a heap on the floor. I couldn’t have done it…I’d have probably tripped over four or five times or I’d have hit a wall or a door”.

The walk started and finished outside the optician’s practice at 1 Smallgate, travelling through the marketplace and returning via the King’s Head pub. This year the walk also diverted into Country Cards which is Mayor Hill’s wife’s business in Beccles.

Mayor Hill said “I thought I knew that shop, but I obviously don’t. I bumped into three or four things in the shop which is amazing and I shall now have more consideration for non-sighted people”.

Senior Optometrist at Observatory the Opticians, René Moor, said: “We do a blindfolded walk every year to raise awareness of the difficulties that visually impaired and blind people face as part of their everyday routines, such as entering shops, crossing roads, negotiating kerbs and shopping in busy high streets with many obstacles. There are over two million people living with significant sight loss in the UK and 340,000 people who are registered blind or partially sighted. Every day, 250 people start to lose their sight in the UK and at least half of all sight loss is avoidable. Having an eye test can detect serious health conditions before you even notice any symptoms. It’s not just about your vision but also an important health check”.

Michelle Lyman, Optical Dispenser at Observatory, also took part in the blindfolded walk this year. She said, “I found it disorientating. I didn’t really know where I was at times and I found I couldn’t distinguish between the pavement and the road. The distance we travelled was a lot more than I thought. It was a great experience, and I think more people should try it”.

The walk was organised by the Beccles & District Lions Club, part of an international charity which supports the local community as well as humanitarian causes across the world.
Blindfold Walk Staff from Observatory, the Mayor and Beccles Lions standing in front of Observatory the Opticians holding a World Sight Day banner