A woman who woke up to sudden sight loss is to take on Edinburgh Kiltwalk for RNIB. Elizabeth O’Hara is urging people to join her for the Edinburgh Kiltwalk on Sunday, September 15th, to raise money for sight loss charity RNIB.
“RNIB helped me a great deal when I lost my sight,” says Elizabeth (50), who has already done the Aberdeen, Glasgow and Dundee Kiltwalks this year. “I literally woke up blind one morning due to diabetic retinopathy and other health conditions. Right now, I can’t see anything with my left eye and have a little residual vision in my right.”
The annual Kiltwalks allow people to raise funds for the causes they care about and receive a 40 per cent top-up from Sir Tom Hunter’s Foundation. Those taking part can choose to walk six, 15 or 23 miles on the day.
Elizabeth, and those she hopes will join her for the Edinburgh walk, will do six miles – ‘the Wee Wander’.
She is a member of RNIB’s Connect community, which brings together blind and partially sighted people like herself. The People’s Postcode Lottery has already donated a major award of £1m towards developing the community throughout the UK.
“It was my first time being around others with sight loss,” says Elizabeth. “and it helped me live easier with my own sight condition. It was because of this that I went on to become a volunteer for RNIB.
“I would like to thank the players of the People’s Postcode Lottery for raising money for RNIB for help to grow and develop the Connect community. It’s a great opportunity to reach out even further and help more people meet others who share some of the same problems as themselves.”
There are around 170,000 people living in Scotland with significant sight loss, and two million across the UK, so the potential is big.
Elizabeth wants the money she raises in sponsorship to help RNIB produce more Talking Books. An avid reader herself, she appreciates just how important books are to people who can’t read normal print.
“I love reading,” she says, “and I couldn’t imagine not being able to read the same books that everyone else does. That’s why I decided to do all four Kiltwalks to raise funds for RNIB this year.
“It would be great if other people could join me on the Edinburgh Kiltwalk. Individuals, friends and families are very welcome to join and help raise money for Talking Books. The more the merrier! I would love to walk with as many people as possible and enjoy each other’s company for a very good cause!”
* To join Elizabeth’s Edinburgh Kiltwalk team, register at
https://registration.everydayhero.com/ps/event/TheEdinburghKiltwalk2019 ,
select the Wee Wander and the Royal National Institute of Blind People as your chosen charity. It costs £12.80 to register. When asked to create or join a team – please click ‘Join’ and type ‘Let’s Do This!’.
Alternatively, you can simply sponsor Elizabeth by donating directly at https://edinburghkiltwalk2019.everydayhero.com/uk/elizabeth
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