There is still time to be part of the first ever Vision Awareness Week, which starts on Monday.

Manx Blind Welfare Society is organising a week of events to raise public awareness of the challenges faced by blind and visually impaired people living in the Isle of Man, promote eye health and highlight the charity’s work and services.

Vision Awareness Week begins on Monday, 15th September, with the official launch at the Manx Museum in Douglas. This event, supported by Specsavers, is an opportunity to find out more about the work and services of Manx Blind Welfare Society, the aims of Vision Awareness Week and what the Island community can do embrace visual impairment in society.

The launch, from noon until 3pm, will also be addressed by “the world’s fastest blind man” Steve Cunningham. Steve, who lost his sight at 12, holds three World Records, including the blind land speed and powerboat records, was the first blind person to pilot a plane around the UK and has played football and cricket for England. His inspirational talk will challenge the audience to reassess their limits, what they can achieve and goals in life.

Tickets, priced ?10, are available by calling 674727 or visiting Corrin Court, Onchan.

Throughout Vision Awareness Week there will roadshows around the Island giving people the opportunity to find out more about services available for visually impaired people in the Isle of Man, and information on how to look after your eyesight.

The roadshow will be from 10am to 3pm at Castletown Civic Hall on 16th September, Corrin Hall, Peel, on 17th September, Ramsey Town Hall on 18th September and Promenade Church, Douglas, on 19th September.

The week concludes with the Island’s biggest ever guided walking event on 21st September. Sponsored by Conister Bank, Walk My Way will encourage the community to experience the challenges faced by visually impaired people and learn some skills which they can use every day.

Manx Blind Welfare Society offers free training in guided walking to organisations Island-wide. These are the techniques which prepare sighted people to safely and confidently guide a visually impaired person. During Walk My Way entrants will be paired up, with one blindfolded, to walk from the War Memorial on Harris Promenade to opposite the Empress Hotel on Central Promenade and back.

Walk My Way is open to teams and individuals, and entry is free, although a sponsorship form is available for anyone who would like to raise money to support the work of Manx Blind Welfare Society. Signing on starts at 2pm and the walk begins at 3pm. For more information email enquiries@mbws.org.im or call 674727.

Volunteers Coordinator and Events Organiser Debbie Kenyon said: ‘The central aim of Vision Awareness Week is to highlight the challenges blind and visually impaired people face every day in the Isle of Man and explains ways we, as a community, can help reduce those challenges. We also want to significantly improve access to public services for the visually impaired and remind people of the importance of regular eye checks, as early detection is vital in the treatment and prevention of some conditions which can threaten vision.

‘We hope the community gets behind these events, whether it is coming along to the launch to hear from the fascinating Steve Cunningham, signing up for Walk My Way or dropping into any of our roadshows to learn a little more about visual impairment.’

MBWS provides vital services for almost 600 people with serious sight loss on the Isle of Man and during Vision Awareness Week the charity will also be publicising the work they do alongside other charities, societies and agencies with blind and visually impaired people.

To find out more about MBWS, visit www.facebook.com/manxblindwelfaresociety

Photo - Steve Cunningham, who will be guest speaker at the official launch of Vision Awareness Week 2014 on 15th September.