Charity has blind devotion to cause (From Bournemouth Echo)

Charity has blind devotion to cause

7:20pm Monday 27th October 2008

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EVER since she was a child, Emelye Purser has known there was something wrong with her eyes.

But it wasn’t until five years ago that she began to lose her sight. Emelye, 34, has undergone ten operations to try and keep the sight she has and is now registered blind.

Thanks to Dorset Blind Association, she’s been able to continue to lead a full and active life, taking part in a huge range of activities organised by the charity.

But it hasn’t always been that way.

“As a visually impaired person it’s very hard to find out about any help there is at all for blind people because you can’t see posters and things,” explained the mother-of-three from Blandford.

“There aren’t very many people around with visual impairments of my age group, or it seems that way, and I’ve never met anybody else with a child.

“I felt very isolated.”

Emelye became a member of the Dorset Blind Association after the charity’s manager spotted her walking through Poole with her cane.

As it marks its 90th anniversary, the charity is now aiming to reach out to as many of the 6,500 registered blind people in the county as possible.

Backed by the Daily Echo, Dorset Blind Association is launching a £35,000 appeal for a Help and Information facility at Royal Bournemouth Hospital’s Eye Unit, providing counselling, practical help and advice.

The charity also wants to extend its existing services, which include home visiting, transcription, an audio library and resource centre and sight equipment vehicles as well as the social club attended by Emelye.

“I like to do my own thing, I like to be independent, but it’s just nice to go to a group,” she explained.

“They encourage people to get out and about and get involved in activities that you wouldn’t do otherwise.

“If you’ve had a bit of a down day or something has happened you want to share it with someone that can understand.

“It’s just nice to know I can go somewhere where there are like-minded people.”

One of those like-minded people is 39-year-old Dave Colclough, who was diagnosed with a progressive condition when he was 30. He is now registered blind, although he can see light and dark.

“I joined Dorset Blind Association when I first found out I had a problem with my sight,” he said.

“A few years later they contacted me and said they were trying to set up a young person’s group and they asked if I would like to get involved. “We’ve done brewery trips, museums where we’ve been able have hands-on experiences, sailing and bowling.

“We’ve also done adventure weekends, rock climbing and canoeing and we are trying to get some acoustic shooting and archery.”

If that wasn’t enough to keep Dave, from Poole, busy, he also took part in this year’s London Marathon, along with a volunteer, and raised £9,000 which was split between the Dorset Blind Association and Guide Dogs for the Blind.

But he’s adamant he couldn’t have done any of it without the charity’s help.

“They’ve helped me with a lot of stuff – hospital appointments, helping me sort out the forms and things like that.

“They’ve been a tremendous help. I would just like to say thank you for what they’ve done.”

• To find out more about the help and activities offered by Dorset Blind Association, or to offer your help as a volunteer, contact the charity on 01202 712860.

Donations for the Eye Unit Appeal can be sent direct to the Dorset Blind Association at 17 Bournemouth Road, Lower Parkstone, Poole BH14 0EF, (please mark your envelope “Bournemouth Eye Unit Appeal”) or online at just giving.com/dorsetblind.

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