17 April 2022
An engineer with a visual impairment raised over £1700 for the charity that supports him after visiting all 272 London Underground stations.
Garry Ritchie, 49, is a service user of North East Sensory Services (NESS), which provides support services for people with hearing and visual impairments in the north east of Scotland.
Ritchie, from Elgin, was diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa in 2013 and is registered blind.
In the years since his diagnosis he has received both emotional and practical support from NESS, including training in the use of a ‘long cane’ or ‘white stick’ and help with documentation.
In March, along with friend Tracey Morris, who acted as his sighted guide, he set out to complete the Tube Challenge in just two days.
Ritchie and Morris spent 13 hours on day one and 11 hours on day two travelling across London.
They had set a target of raising £500 for NESS, but have now more than tripled this.
The charity provides social care and support services for around 6500 people with hearing and visual impairments in Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Angus, Dundee and Moray. Its aim is to achieve a society in which people living with sensory loss can fully participate and contribute to the same level as those without sensory loss.
Ritchie said: “I’m over the moon with what we have achieved and enjoyed taking on this challenge.”
He added: “NESS has given me invaluable support since I was first diagnosed, and I’m glad I’ve been able to do this and give something back. We are so grateful to everyone who donated, and to Transport for London for all the help we received.”
Graham Findlay, chief executive of NESS, said: “Everyone at NESS is delighted for Garry and Tracey after completing their Tube Challenge.
“We’re also extremely grateful for the money they have raised for our charity, which will go towards our work in supporting people with visual and hearing impairments.
“Our driving objective is to achieve independence for blind and deaf people, so it’s wonderful to see one of our service users taking on a challenge of this nature. We couldn’t be happier for Garry and all that he has achieved.”
To donate to Ritchie’s fundraising page, please click here.
Garry Ritchie, 49, is a service user of North East Sensory Services (NESS), which provides support services for people with hearing and visual impairments in the north east of Scotland.
Ritchie, from Elgin, was diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa in 2013 and is registered blind.
In the years since his diagnosis he has received both emotional and practical support from NESS, including training in the use of a ‘long cane’ or ‘white stick’ and help with documentation.
In March, along with friend Tracey Morris, who acted as his sighted guide, he set out to complete the Tube Challenge in just two days.
Ritchie and Morris spent 13 hours on day one and 11 hours on day two travelling across London.
They had set a target of raising £500 for NESS, but have now more than tripled this.
The charity provides social care and support services for around 6500 people with hearing and visual impairments in Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Angus, Dundee and Moray. Its aim is to achieve a society in which people living with sensory loss can fully participate and contribute to the same level as those without sensory loss.
Ritchie said: “I’m over the moon with what we have achieved and enjoyed taking on this challenge.”
He added: “NESS has given me invaluable support since I was first diagnosed, and I’m glad I’ve been able to do this and give something back. We are so grateful to everyone who donated, and to Transport for London for all the help we received.”
Graham Findlay, chief executive of NESS, said: “Everyone at NESS is delighted for Garry and Tracey after completing their Tube Challenge.
“We’re also extremely grateful for the money they have raised for our charity, which will go towards our work in supporting people with visual and hearing impairments.
“Our driving objective is to achieve independence for blind and deaf people, so it’s wonderful to see one of our service users taking on a challenge of this nature. We couldn’t be happier for Garry and all that he has achieved.”
To donate to Ritchie’s fundraising page, please click here.
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