Page 21 - Chiron Issue 2 2014

Animal Health Trust
Equine Clinic
Experts in: Poor Performance Diagnostic Imaging Orthopaedics Ophthalmology Oncology Dermatology
www.ahtreferrals.co.uk
Tel: 01638 751908 E-mail: equine.centre@aht.org.uk
Small Animal Clinic
Experts in: Dermatology Internal Medicine Neurology Oncology Ophthalmology Orthopaedics Soft Tissue Surgery
We offer FREE CPD to
Royal Army Veterinary Corps Members. Email karen.bond@aht.org.uk for details.
www.ahtreferrals.co.uk
Tel: 01638 552700 E-mail: smallanimal.centre@aht.org.uk Registered Charity No. 209642
Blind Veterans UK offers support to vision impaired ex-Service men and women By Brian Eldridge (ex-RAVC)
Sight loss can be devastating at any age, especially without the right support and guidance to help you adjust. Blind Veterans UK is the national charity for vision impaired ex-Service personnel and their families, helping them to overcome the challenges of sight loss and live independently.
Blind Veterans UK provides free services and lifelong support to vision impaired ex-Service men and women, regardless of when they served or when or how they lost their sight. It could be that they left service years ago and didn’t
lose their sight until years later, just like Brian Eldridge.
Ex-Royal Veterinary Corps man Brian was discharged in 1975 and it wasn’t until later in life that he lost his sight due to retinitis pigmentosa. Brian was registered as blind over 15 years ago and has been receiving specialist support and services from Blind Veterans
UK since 2006.
“Blind Veterans UK has been tremendous,” says Brian, “they
have helped me to become independent again, despite my sight loss. The encouragement they have given me is just brilliant; I can’t sing their praises enough.
“With their encouragement I have built up my skills. I don’t hesitate now to go out alone and I enjoy spending time using my computer thanks to the IT training the charity has provided.”
Since being supported by Blind Veterans UK, Brian has become one of its official standard-bearers and was asked to represent the charity at the national Armed Forces Day event this year.
“When the charity asked me to become a standard-bearer, I didn’t give it much thought – I said yes straight away,” Brian explains. “I am very proud that Blind Veterans UK asked me and the fact that I was able to represent the charity on Armed Forces Day was a real honour.”
Blind Veterans UK offers free services and lifelong support to veterans with sight loss, providing rehabilitation, training and equipment as well as emotional and practical support. Through the No One Alone campaign, Blind Veterans UK is reaching out to the estimated 68,000+ vision impaired ex-Service men and women who may be eligible for the charity’s support, just like Brian, but are not currently receiving it.
To find out more visit: www.noonealone.org.uk or telephone: 0800
CSL Advert:CSL 3/8/09 16:48 Page 1
389 7979.
www.centaurservices.co.uk
Chiron Calling 21