Sandy goes offroad

Sandy Miller’s life was turned upside down in September 1985, when at the age of 23, recently married Sandy was admitted semi-conscious to hospital after suffering flu-like symptoms. Here his family learned the seriousness of his condition - a virus, neuro mylitis optica, which would leave Sandy in a paralysed state.

Extensive physiotherapy and a great deal of determination on Sandy’s part, along with the support of family and friends meant Sandy was home for Christmas.  However, it took Sandy a long time to come to terms with his blindness.

Sandy qualified with Nushka, his first guide dog on the 3^rd December 1997 and regrets not applying sooner.  Having the means to get from A to B Sandy was soon in search of employment, but soon realised this would not be as easy as he first anticipated so he decided to go back to college to re-train. “Going back to College was a nightmare”, said Sandy as he didn’t like it much the first time round, but soon he learned how to turn the computer on and with a very patient tutor and some audio cassettes, was quick to learn how to touch-type.

He was soon introduced to the sports facility at college and found that this was some thing that he enjoyed and you didn’t require sight to take part. Through this love of sports, Sandy embarked on the first of his challenges to raise money for Guide Dogs, entering himself and college friends into team events such as the Coniston Team Adventure Challenge. Over the years Sandy has taken part in numerous fundraising events for Guide Dogs and last year Sandy decided to try a new challenge event that Guide Dogs had introduced, and entered three teams into the 4 x 4 event. “I’m not as fit as I used to be” said Sandy “so this was a new type of challenge for me. Driving the 4x4 over the bridge we constructed, relying on my team mates to guide me was a fantastic experience”.

To date, Sandy has raised over £25000 for Guide Dogs and hopes to continue raising money and awareness for Guide Dogs.  Nushka has recently retired and Sandy has now qualified with a new Guide Dog called Alex.  Sandy hopes to graduate next year.

“The Guide Dogs for The Blind Association have given me some of my independence back. Nushka, and now Alex, have enabled me to change direction, and I will always be grateful to Guide Dogs for that opportunity.  Therefore it’s a pleasure to show my appreciation by raising a few pounds for them, and I have made loads of new friends along the way.”