Blind veteran's daughter set for Three Peaks Challenge

The daughter of one of the blind veterans we support has set herself a New Year resolution to complete the Three Peaks Challenge in 2026 to raise money for our charity.

Anna, 21, and from London, will attempt to reach the top of Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon in just 24 hours in April.

Sudden sight loss

Anna's dad's sight loss happened suddenly leaving the family feeling very unsure about the future. Anna says: 

“It happened completely out of nowhere and changed our lives overnight. Over the space of just ten days, dad’s eyesight deteriorated rapidly and by the time I realised how serious it was, his vision had gone completely pitch black – no light, no shapes, no shadows and it is still like that today.

“I was away in Thailand at the time, on my first holiday as a young adult; being so far away and realising what was happening was devastating.”

Anna’s dad, Mark, 62, from Slough, joined the Army straight from school in 1981 and served for 16 years with the Royal Regiment of Wales. It was in December 2023 that Mark noticed something was wrong. In January 2024, Mark was admitted to hospital and stayed there for five weeks.  

Mark’s sight loss was caused by damage to his optical nerves. He says:

“When I lost my sight, I felt very insecure and I didn’t know what to do. It wasn’t a nice feeling to suddenly be in the dark after spending my whole life being able to see.”

Discovering our charity

Fortunately Mark discovered our charity and has been supported by us since February 2024. Anna says:

“Blind Veterans UK stepped in and has supported my dad during one of the most difficult times of his life, helping him to rebuild his confidence and find a sense of purpose again.

“Losing his vision changed every part of my dad’s day-to-day life. Simple things he had always done without thinking such as stepping out the front door for a walk, making a cup of tea, choosing clothes to wear, doing the grocery shopping and even calling and texting family and friends became incredibly difficult or impossible. The support he’s had from Blind Veterans UK has helped him to regain his confidence and his independence.”

We have provided Mark with a voice-activated phone, a cane, arranged a volunteer to join him for regular walks, helped him to set up payment plans for bills and supported him with his mental health. Mark says:

“Blind Veterans UK provides me with a shoulder to lean on and I really appreciate their visits.”

The challenge

Anna has decided to take on this challenge to raise vital funds for our charity so we can continue to support veterans like her dad. 

Anna says her dad was very athletic in his prime. She says:

"Dad is arctic warfare trained and spent years hiking, training and pushing himself in the mountains. In honour of his achievements, I’ve decided to do something I’ve never done before and challenge myself. I’ve already started my training; I’ve been advised to complete some nighttime training as I’ll be hiking through the night and in poor weather conditions. Hiking up Ben Nevis in April is still considered the winter season and they’ll be snow at the top.

“Raising money for Blind Veterans UK means a great deal to me because I’ve seen first-hand the difference their support makes. Knowing that this challenge could help others receive the same support is a great motivation.”

You can help Anna to reach her £5,000 fundraising target: