BLINDFOLD WALK RAISES £8,000 FOR SIGHT LOSS CHARITY

A former Norwich City star has raised nearly £8,000 for Norfolk’s sight loss charity – after stepping out on a 13 mile ‘blind walk’.

Jeremy Goss, who is now head of fundraising at the Norfolk & Norwich Association for the Blind, walked from Gorleston to Corton and back while wearing a blindfold, to raise awareness of the challenges that visually-impaired people face, as well as raising money for the charity.

He was guided on the walk by his two sons Jacob and Joseph, and completed the 13 mile walk without once removing the blindfold.

With the generous support of Barclays Bank’s match-funding initiative, as well as donations and sponsorship, the feat raised nearly £8,000 for the NNAB.

“Those of us blessed with good sight take simple things like walking along the prom for granted; it’s not until you put on a blindfold that you realise just how challenging it can be,” said Jeremy Goss.

“Even though I was being guided by two of those closest to me, it still takes an enormous leap of faith to step out completely blind.  It is a real demonstration of the challenges that visually-impaired people face every day.

“We are extremely grateful to the individuals and business who sponsored me to complete the challenge, and in particular to Barclays Bank, who have been an ongoing supporter of the work the NNAB does to help people with sight loss in Norfolk to live independent and fulfilled lives.”

As part of the ongoing partnership between the charity and Barclays, NNAB staff will be visiting the bank’s Great Yarmouth branch to conduct a training session on the challenges facing visually-impaired people.

Branch manager Becky Edwards said, “We are proud to support such an excellent local charity.  It is also helpful for us to understand the challenges that visually-impaired people go through every day, something which will help us to give a better service to our customers.”