World Record Blindfold Walk

Organised by Bexhill Lions Club, in conjunction with the Lions SightFirst campaign, the three hundred yard walk, led by town mayor Bridget George, gave people a taste of what it's like to be visually impaired and to be part of the world record for the number of simultaneous blindfold walkers throughout Britain.

Starting at Devonshire square and described as a "simple" walk down to the crossing at the bottom of Devonshire Road and back again, Bexhill Lions President Avril Earnshaw said:

"The objective is to have fun whilst increasing awareness of the problems associated with blindness, and in particular the action that can be taken to reduce blindness in Britain and throughout the world."

Prior to donning a blindfold for the walk Cllr George said she'd taken a look at the course and a number of things had crossed her mind.

She said: "As a sighted person you don't realise what we do or think about what people, whose sight is limited, have to deal with. This short walk encompasses not only crossing roads, but there are other things to be aware of like bollards and grills around trees. It's an obstacle course!"

The blindfolded participants each had a guide to help them safely manoeuvre the course and Lion Ken Rushbrooke, whose mum suffered from visual impairment, found the experience difficult to cope with.

Ken said: " It's very disorientating, I keep wanting to try and see, it's a very, very strange sensation, I have no sense of direction. I'm aware of all the sounds around me. It's not pleasant, not nice at all."

Forty two million people suffer from blindness in the world today, and every day thirteen hundred men, women and children lose their sight.

In 1989 the Lions club launched the SightFirst campaign to battle preventable blindness, and has raised 250 million, restoring sight to 7.5 million people through cataract surgeries, including ninety-six Bexhill residents.

For more information visit the website at: www.lionsclubs.org