You can be part of what promises to be the largest guided walking event ever held in the Isle of Man, and help raise awareness of the challenges faced by blind and visually impaired people in the Island.

Walk My Way will be held in Douglas on Sunday, 21st September, as part of Vision Awareness Week. Individuals and teams are invited to sign up now for the guided walk from War Memorial on Harris Promenade to opposite the Empress Hotel on Central Promenade and back.

Conister Bank has already shown its support by sponsoring the event and confirming members of staff will join in.

Guided walking is the method used by sighted people to escort blind and visually impaired people. Manx Blind Welfare Society offers free training in guided walking and would like even more people to find out what it involves at this special event.

MBWS Chief Executive Ian Cooil said: ‘We have delivered guided walking training to businesses, charities and other organisations and it has proved very successful in preparing sighted people to confidently and safely escort visually impaired people.

‘As part of Vision Awareness Week, which seeks to raise public awareness of the challenges faced by blind and visually impaired people living in the Isle of Man, we would like to invite everyone to join Walk My Way.

‘You can enter on your own or with a team and the intention is to pair entrants up, with one person blindfolded, for the walk. We hope it will demonstrate to everyone that takes part why it is so important to understand how to safely and confidently escort a visually impaired person, and will encourage more organisations to sign up for our free training.

‘If anyone would like to be sponsored for the event and raise funds for the vital work we do with more than 600 people in the Island with serious sight loss, that would be very welcome.’

He added: ‘I’d like to thank Conister Bank on behalf of the Society for its support of this event. This sponsorship is vital to the success of Walk My Way and a clear commitment by Conister to help us raise awareness of the needs of the visually impaired in the Island.’

Conister Bank Managing Director Juan Kelly said: ‘Vision Awareness Week is an important opportunity to explain to the community the issues faced by blind and visually impaired people in the Isle of Man and what we can do, as a society, to assist them.

‘Conister is delighted to be giving its support to Manx Blind Welfare Society and sponsoring Walk My Way, which I hope the whole community gets behind. We will have members of staff taking part, and I’d like to encourage everyone to get involved.’

The first Vision Awareness Week, from 15th to 21st September, aims to explain what people can do to embrace visual impairment in society, in the workplace and in all walks of life, and gain a greater understanding of how those with a visual impairment live.

There will be a series of events outlining the simple steps we can all take to enhance the daily experience of blind and visually impaired people by anticipating and meeting their needs, such as cutting overhanging vegetation and not parking on pavements, and calling for significant improvements in access to public services for blind and visually impaired people.

During the week, MBWS will also be encouraging people to think about their own eye health, the possible impact their lifestyle could have on their future vision and the importance of regular eye checks.

The week will be launched at the Manx Museum on 15th September, when Steve Cunningham, an inspirational speaker who lost his sight as a child but went on to set three World Records and play sport for his country, will address the audience.

Tickets for the event, kindly supported by Specsavers, are available now priced ?10.

There will also be a series of roadshows around the Island throughout the week. The roadshow will be from 10am to 3pm at Castletown Civic Hall on 16th September, Corrin Hall, Peel, on 17th September, Ramsey Town Hall on 18th September and Promenade Church, Douglas, on 19th September.

Entry for Walk My Way is free and more details are available by calling 674727 or emailing enquiries@mbws.org.im.

To find out more about MBWS, visit www.facebook.com/manxblindwelfaresociety