Blind veteran and son take on Five Peaks Challenge
A blind veteran who lost his sight whilst serving in Iraq has been challenged by his nine-year-old son to take on a huge fundraising adventure.
Craig, 39 and his son Max will be taking on the five highest peaks in the British Isles in just five days at the beginning of July.
Serving in Iraq
Craig, from Liverpool, was injured in a grenade explosion in 2007 whilst serving in Iraq with the 2nd Battalion Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment as Section Commander which resulted in him losing his sight. Craig began to be supported by our charity and has remained an inspirational blind veteran ever since. He is no stranger to active challenges and has completed the London Marathon, climbed Kilimanjaro and cycled from Land’s End to John O’Groats.
In 2024, Craig was awarded the Ted Higgs Prize at our Founder’s Day Awards for his inspiring contribution and boundless spirit, qualities that he shares with the charity’s founder Sir Arthur Pearson and his three children, Ben, Max and Sofia.
When his eldest son Ben was nine, he and Craig walked Hadrian’s Wall to raise money for charity and now Max has turned nine he asked if he could also take on a challenge with his dad. Craig initially set out to complete the three-peaks challenge, but then thought they may as well do all five.
Overcoming sight loss
Craig said:
“As a blinded war veteran, at the age of 21, never in a million years did I think I would be capable or lucky enough to take on such a big adventure with my nine-year-old and spend that quality time making memories. The early days at Blind Veterans UK set the foundations for me to believe that anything within reason is possible. And regardless of being blind or not, you can still be one little boy’s hero no matter how tall the mountain. Just a little love and support sprinkled in with a bit of teamwork and any peak is in reach.”
The father and son adventure will start at Ben Nevis in Scotland, before tacking Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) on Craig’s 40th birthday on 4 July. They will finish the challenge in Ireland, hiking over 3,400ft up Carrauntoohil.
Talking about the challenge Craig said:
"We will be doing it all with my guide Callum, who is my friend, and Deborah. Being totally blind is hard but we have just got to do what we have got to do.
A special bond
"I joined the army at 16, it's awkward but I deal with what I deal with. It's what Max wants to do so as a dad I have to try and make it happen. The next challenge will be when Sofia turns nine, I'm looking forward to what she will want to do."
He added:
"I'm so proud of Max wanting to do all these things, he was spurred on by his older brother. It's nice getting to spend dad and lad time doing things like this.
We have a lot of conversation together when there is hours and hours of walking. It's nice, quiet time, spending time together as a dad and lad."
You can keep up with Craig and Max’s progress and find out more about their challenge by following Craig on Facebook.
Have you been inspired by Craig and Max to take on your own challenge to support our blind veterans?
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