The first Vision Awareness Week will be celebrated by the Tower of Refuge and Pulrose Power Station being lit up in yellow, Manx Blind Welfare Society is delighted to announce.

The Department of Infrastructure and Manx Utilities Authority have kindly offered to mark the week by turning the lights on the two buildings yellow, the colour traditionally associated with visual impairment issues.

Manx Blind Welfare Society is organising Vision Awareness Week to improve public understanding of the challenges faced by blind and visually impaired people living in the Isle of Man, promote eye health and highlight the charity’s work and services. The special events start on Monday, 15th September, with the official launch at the Manx Museum in Douglas.

Volunteers Coordinator and Events Organiser Debbie Thomson said: ‘We are absolutely delighted the Department of Infrastructure and Manx Utilities Authority have made this kind offer. To have two iconic and prominent buildings specially lit in recognition of Vision Awareness Week is an honour and will help raise public awareness of the events we are hosting.

‘The purpose of the week is to explain some of the challenges faced by those living with a visual impairment and highlight ways the Island community can help, whether that is simple everyday actions, like remembering not to park on pavements, or joining our call for significant improvements in access to public services for blind and visually impaired people in the Isle of Man.

‘We also want to make more people aware of the support and services available in the Island for visually impaired people of all ages, through Manx Blind Welfare Society and other charities and organisations we work with.’

She added: ‘Vision Awareness Week is also an opportunity to remind people to look after their eye health and have regular check-ups, as early detection can make a huge difference in the prevention and treatment of conditions which can compromise vision.

‘These are important issues for the community to be aware of and get involved with, and we are very pleased the DoI and MUA have shown their support.’

The official launch on Monday, supported by Specsavers, is an opportunity to find out more what the Island community can do embrace visual impairment in society. The event, from noon until 3pm, will be addressed by “the world’s fastest blind man” Steve Cunningham. Steve, who lost his sight at 12, holds three World Records, was the first blind person to pilot a plane around the UK and has played football and cricket for England. His inspirational talk will challenge the audience to reassess their limits, what they can achieve and goals in life. Tickets, priced ?10, are available by calling 674727.

There will also be roadshows giving people the opportunity to find out more about services available for visually impaired people in the Isle of Man, and information on how to look after your eyesight. The roadshows 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.

The week concludes with Walk My Way, sponsored by Conister Bank, on 21st September. Entrants will be paired up, with one blindfolded, to walk from the War Memorial on Harris Promenade to opposite the Empress Hotel on Central Promenade and back during the event, which is intended to encourage the community to experience the challenges faced by the visually impaired and learn some skills which they can use every day to safely and confidently guide visually impaired people.

Walk My Way is open to teams and individuals, and entry is free, although a sponsorship form is available for anyone who would like to raise money to support the work of Manx Blind Welfare Society. Signing on starts at 2pm and the walk begins at 3pm. For more information email enquiries@mbws.org.im or call 674727.

Mrs Thomson concluded: ‘We have received tremendous support, and I am excited to announce that McDonald’s is also backing Vision Awareness Week. Staff from the Douglas restaurant will be helping to marshal Walk My Way, and we hope to encourage some of them to try out guided walking for themselves. We hope as many people as possible will come along on 21st September to join in and find out more.’

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