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Vision Awareness Week closes with Island's biggest guided walking event

by isleofman.com 22nd September 2014
Almost 100 people turned out to take part in Walk My Way, the Island’s biggest ever guided walking event, along Douglas promenade on Sunday.

The walk, sponsored by Conister Bank, was the final event of Vision Awareness Week, which was organised by Manx Blind Welfare Society to improve public understanding of the challenges faced by blind and visually impaired people living in the Isle of Man, promote eye health and highlight the work of the Society and others including RNIB, Guide Dogs and the Macular Society in the Island.

Guided walking is the method used by sighted people to escort blind and visually impaired people. Manx Blind Welfare Society offers free training in guided walking to Island businesses and organisations, but the charity wanted even more people to find out what it involves.

During Walk My Way, people were paired up, with one blindfolded, to walk from the War Memorial on Harris Promenade to opposite the Empress Hotel on Central Promenade. It was an opportunity to experience some of the challenges blind and visually impaired people face when walking, as well as a chance to learn some of the skills to guide visually impaired people safely and confidently.

Manx Blind Welfare Society Chief Executive Ian Cooil said: ‘We were absolutely delighted with the support Walk My Way received, as people of all ages turned out to try guided walking.

‘One of the central aims of Vision Awareness Week was to help improve public understanding of the challenges faced by blind and visually impaired people, and what society can do to help, and I think this event did a lot to achieve that aim.

‘The simple skill of understanding how to guide a visually impaired person while walking can make a huge difference to their life and if any organisation is interested in receiving free training, they should contact us.’

He added: ‘I’d like to thank our sponsor Conister Bank and the McDonald’s staff who volunteered as marshals for the walk, as well as everyone who made the effort to have a go and support Walk My Way.’

During Vision Awareness Week, which launched on 15th September, there were roadshows around the Island, talks to school and community groups by guest Steve Cunningham, “the world’s fastest blind man”, and several other events, including an acoustic shooting event which saw the MBWS All Stars beat competition from, among others, the Isle of Man Constabulary.

Manx Blind Welfare Society Chairman Charles Fargher said: ‘Vision Awareness Week was an ambitious project, but vital in ensuring more is understood about visual impairment in the Island community.

‘I believe we have significantly improved public understanding and greatly increased awareness of the services available to blind and visually impaired people in the Island from organisations like ours. Importantly, we have also been able to enhance education on the need to look after our eye health, for instance through regular eye checks, as some conditions which can compromise sight are treatable or manageable if detected early enough.

‘Much has been achieved, but there is still work to be done and we will continue, year-round, raising awareness and calling for significant improvements in access to public services for the blind and visually impaired in our community.’

To find out more about the services offered by Manx Blind Welfare Society, and how you can support its work in the Island, call 674727 or email enquiries@mbws.org.im.

To find out more about MBWS, visit www.facebook.com/manxblindwelfaresociety.
Posted by isleofman.com
Monday 22nd, September 2014 01:55pm.

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