Beating Ben Nevis

My name is Wendy Pope and I was diagnosed with Retinitus Pigmentosa when I was 7 years old.  For years I did not want to acknowledge my visual impairment.  I went to a main stream school as I did not want to be treated differently.  “I was considered “dangerous with a hockey stick” but I never talked about it at school but at the same time never felt as connected as other children”.  I masked my deteriorating eyesight although I did secretly attend Warwickshire Vision Support 'drop-in' centre and receive 'cane training' from their Rehabilitation Workers.  I dismissed my eye condition but was bumping and bruising myself all the time.  I didn’t want to be labelled, I wanted a normal life.

When the offer of redundancy came along I decided finally to embrace my visual impairment.  I applied for a Guide Dog and within 4 months of leaving work was given 'Lily’.  I have received so much support from Warwickshire Vision Support over the past 15 years that I would like to take on the challenge of climbing Ben Nevis in aid of them.  I regularly attend their Vision Support Centre in Nuneaton and receive advice and guidance and IT Training.  The support centre is like one large family, very friendly and helpful and no one judges you.  Warwickshire Vision Support as a charity need funds in order to continue to provide services for visually impaired people just like me so please support me in my quest.

On Sunday 13th September 2020 I will be climbing Ben Nevis with my guide.  I will not be able to take my Guide Dog Lily with me as it would be too far but I know that Lily will be supporting me down at base camp with my husband.  This will be a real achievement for me as my eye sight is now very limited and I have never taken anything on like this before.  Ben Nevis is the highest mountain in the British Isles standing at 1,345 meters.  

Please support me today in aid of Warwickshire Vision Support