Blind veteran’s double 100km challenge

A blind veteran is taking on two 100km endurance walking challenges this year to raise money for our charity which he says has given him his life back following sight loss.  

Jerry, 63, and from Weymouth, will be taking part in the Jurassic Coast Ultra Challenge on 16 May and the South Coast Ultra on 5 September. The two ultras total 200km and Jerry aims to raise £2,000.

Experience of the South Coast Ultra

In 2025 Jerry joined a team of blind veterans to take on the South Coast Ultra and crossed the 100km finish line in 28 hours and 16 minutes. He says:

“I found the South Coast Ultra mentally tough and actually said ‘never again!’  

“I ended the challenge in physically good shape with zero blisters and able to walk normally but walking through the night and feeling like you were detouring for food breaks was gruelling. We took eight breaks in total; they gradually increased in length. The final stop was an hour long for breakfast and lots of cups of tea."

Anne, who works at our charity as a Volunteer Coordinator, was Jerry’s guide in 2025 and has signed up as a volunteer herself to join him again for the two ultra challenges this year. He says:

“I am so grateful to Anne for her ongoing support. She has enabled me to have the opportunity to take on these challenges, find purpose and build my confidence.” 

Taking on the double

Jerry has gone from saying “never again” to taking on not one but two ultra challenges in 2026. 

It was while on an outward bound trip in the Lake District with our charity that Jerry decided to sign up again and to join his fellow blind veterans for the South Coast Ultra once more. He says:

"The camaraderie is fantastic and we all support one another to take on the distances we can manage. The training is fantastic for my fitness and for filling my time. I find the empty time, the hardest thing about my sight loss but I now go out walking five days a week. 

“Sometimes I am joined by friends and other times I end up joining up with people that I meet while out walking. I’m lucky to have so many lovely walks where I live."

Both of these challenges are part of a series of events organised and operated by a company with over a decade of experience in providing hikes and treks in some of the most beautiful locations across the UK.

With a reputation for providing outstanding event support including training tips, rest stops complete with food, drinks, medics and massage, and medals for all those who complete their chosen challenge. It's not surprising Jerry can’t wait to take part! 

Sight loss

Jerry served in the RAF for 13 years and during that time lived in nine different places. Difficulties with his sight surfaced in 1996 when he left the RAF but it was not until 2003 that he was diagnosed with stargardt disease which is a genetic eye condition. He says:

“Everyone has one blind spot in each eye but with Stargardt disease you have three and mine are growing; I’ve lost my central vision. I also have Charles Bonnet syndrome which means I see things which are not there.” 

We began to support Jerry in 2024. He says:

“I was in a dark place at times; I was the only blind person I knew but since finding Blind Veterans UK my whole world has changed. Within five months I’d been go-karting, paddle boarding, axe throwing, ascended a climbing wall and been around a velodrome on a tandem bicycle. I have met other blind veterans and my sight loss no longer defines me."

Jerry describes how his confidence to try new things has grown. He says:

"I’d never walked 100km in one hit but the effort of my other blind veterans motivated me to do it and now I’m back to do it again.” 

Jerry hopes to raise awareness of the support offered by our charity and to fundraise so that we can support even more blind veterans. 

You can make a donation to support Jerry to reach his £2,000 fundraising target: