The World Health Organisation has estimated that the number of blind people in the world could double in the next 25 years. To combat the leading causes of blindness and assist in preserving vision, Darlington Lions Club participated in Lions World Sight Day on Thursday 8th October to raise the awareness and education about sight preservation and preventable blindness.
Taking part in the walk was Northern Echo journalist Lauren Pyrah accompanied by John de Martino the Club President. In her article in the newspaper the following day Lauren wrote: -
If you are reading this, it is unlikely that you have experienced a shopping trip without being able to see where you are going, who you are talking to or what you are about to bump into.
As someone fortunate enough to have been blessed with perfect vision all her life, until yesterday, I had no idea how strange and frightening it is to have this powerful sense taken away - or how reliant I am on my eyes for the most basic of tasks.
To mark World Sight Day yesterday, I joined thousands of people around the country who took a step into the unknown by taking part in Lions Club International's attempt to create the biggest blindfolded walk on record.
Although for the actual record I simply had to walk 300 metres at noon, to make it a bit more challenging, the Lions Club arranged for me to go on a shopping trip around Duke Street so I could get a taste - albeit for half an hour - of what it was like to be completely blind.
The blindfold went on and although I could get a sense of light and shade, my vision was completely obscured. Armed with a white stick, and more than a little bit of trepidation, John and I set off walking down the street.
I soon got used to tapping my stick to check if anything was in my way, and to John's running commentary of any hazards in my path, but being without my vision and almost completely dependant on another person was extremely odd and quite scary. Noises in the street seemed to be louder than usual, which was also a little alarming, and John said that I kept veering off to the side when I thought I was walking in a straight line. It became really apparent how much I was hindered by my loss of vision when we came to crossing a road. Although much seems to have been done with street architecture in recent years to help people who are blind or partially-sighted, including textured bumps on the pavement and dropped kerbs, I would, in all likelihood, have come to some sort of harm had it not been for John. Negotiating steps and doorways was one of the most difficult parts of the task, as I simply couldn't tell which position I had to be in to walk through. I probably would have been able to do it eventually unaided, but it would have taken me a very long time - and I'm not sure I would have got the right shop or stayed on my feet.
Despite my experience, I cannot genuinely say I know what it is like to be visually impaired. I was able to take off my blindfold, but there are millions of people who aren't as lucky
