RAF policewomen walk 20 miles under blindfold

Two serving members of the RAF based at RAF Marham in Norfolk have raised over £500 for our charity by walking 20 miles along the Norfolk coastline under blindfold.

Kat and Rosie, who serve with the RAF Police, took on the challenge on 29 August, no doubt expecting sunshine and warm temperatures but were instead met by a gruelling nine hour walk in torrential rain. They started their challenge in Wells-Next-Sea and finished in Cromer. Kat says:

“When we initially conceived the idea to take on a challenge for Blind Veterans UK, we could not have anticipated the extent of the laughter, physical discomforts, and adverse weather conditions we would encounter along the way."

The pair wanted to elevate their challenge by completing it under blindfold, taking it in turns to guide one another over the difficult terrain they faced. Kat says:

“We wanted an experience that would mirror the daily struggles of our brave veterans. Without sight, I was completely at the mercy of Rosie’s guidance, hanging onto her words and trust, desperate to find my way through the unknown. 

“Every moment was filled with uncertainty, as she painstakingly described the world around us, things I couldn’t see but desperately needed to understand. Then, amidst the tense silence, the distant whine of a drone trying to land nearby shattered our calm. I had no sense of its location, its presence, or what it represented. The chaos within me grew stronger, and a tidal wave of helplessness set in, I clung to Rosie’s voice and her reassurance."

“Throughout the challenge, Rosie and I supported each other, kept morale high, and successfully completed our challenge.”

Together, the pair raised £510 which enables us to fund a veteran’s stay at our centre for a week. Kat says:

“We are ecstatic with the amount we have raised. Our fundraising page is still open and we would love to get some more donation to support the charity’s National Creative Project, which provides activities and opportunities for veterans to reconnect with hobbies and passions they may have believed were now inaccessible due to their sight loss.”

To help Kat and Rosie raise even more for our blind veterans, you can visit their JustGiving page: