A Cwmbran blind man spent today chatting to shoppers in the town centre to raise money and awareness of Blind Veterans UK. The charity helps ex-members of our military live independently through physical and emotional support.
Charlie Parkinson told Cwmbran Life:
“I’m here today to raise money because they have helped me with my sight loss and I just want to put something back into it as well as showing the community there is life after sight loss”
Planting pots showed children how blind people use different senses instead of their sight. A former Queen’s Guard soldier wearing the iconic scarlet uniform and his medals visited ten different shops during the day where he presented a lucky shopper with a free bouquet.
Watch a video of Charlie at the Blind Veterans UK event in Cwmbran
I filmed this short video of Charlie talking about why he got involved in today’s event.
Donate the Blind Veterans UK
You can make a donation to Blind Veterans UK through this page on their website.
Charlie served in the 1st Battalion of the King’s Regiment and the Royal Army Medical Corps between 1995 and 2002. He suffers from glaucoma, a condition that has gradually deprived him of his sight, to the point where he now has only 2% vision.
