Served. Blinded. Supported?
Their mission was to help others – will you help them now?
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Sight loss changes everything for blind veterans.
Jamie and Steve joined the Armed Forces to serve and protect. Their careers took them across the world - through conflict and uncertainty, driven by courage and commitment. But like thousands of blind veterans today, sight loss has had a devastating impact on their lives, reshaping their futures in ways they never expected.
Blind veterans like Jamie and Steve once stood up for you and for this country.
Now they need you to stand with them.
Two men who gave their all in service.
Prepared to serve in conflict zones and peacekeeping missions, Jamie and Steve carried the same unwavering sense of duty.
Jamie had dreamed of a military career since childhood. In 1982, as the Falklands War drew to a close, he joined the Royal Engineers, determined to serve wherever he was needed.
Steve’s service took him across some of the most volatile regions of the late 20th century. As a member of the REME, he carried out vital peacekeeping work in high-tension environments, including Cyprus and Berlin.
Jamie's sight loss happened in an instant.
He was leading a routine training exercise, introducing explosives to new recruits. In a split second, something went wrong. The explosives detonated in his face - destroying Jamie’s sight, his military career, and the future he had planned.
Suddenly, everyday tasks became overwhelming, and the independence he had always relied on felt out of reach.
When Steve lost his sight to macular degeneration, the routines and responsibilities that once defined him became impossible almost overnight. He found himself facing a future he hadn’t prepared for, unsure how to rebuild the stability he had always provided for others.
For accomplished veterans like Jamie and Steve, the loss is profound. They were no longer able to work, drive, or enjoy the hobbies they once loved. Their confidence and independence - so central to who they are - were suddenly taken away.
No veteran should have to face that alone.
“The charity showed me I wasn't on my own.”
Because of you, they are rebuilding their lives.
Finding Blind Veterans UK marked the moment everything began to change for Jamie and Steve.
Both men urgently needed support in every aspect of their lives.
At our centre, Jamie found the training he needed to rebuild his confidence and regain his independence - opening the door to a new career. He also found friendship and support among others who understood his journey.
Steve, too, discovered a community of veterans who truly understood what he was going through. Meeting people who had adapted to life without sight helped him see that a second chance was possible - and that he didn’t have to face it alone. Today, Steve even completes ultra-marathons with these new friends, raising vital funds for the charity.
Thanks to your support, Jamie and Steve have rediscovered hope, purpose and the belief that life after sight loss can still be lived to the fullest.
Please will you support blind veterans?
Jamie and Steve’s lives have been rebuilt thanks to the support they’ve received. With your help, blind veterans across the country can do the same.
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