Blind navigators for vintage car rally

Today’s guest blogger is guide dog owner, Phil Lee, who’ll be taking part in a  vintage car rally in Colchester, Essex

When Guide Dogs Information Officer, Sue Rowen, asked if I’d like to be a navigator in a vintage car rally, I jumped at the chance. I’ve never even been in a vintage car before, let alone as the navigator, so I’m really excited.

We’ll be driving 80 furlongs, from the entrance of Colchester Castle Park to Weston Homes Community Stadium, the home of Colchester United Football Club. All the navigators will have a set of instructions they’ll use to guide their driver. I have some sight and mine will be in large print; others will be using different formats, including Braille. The drivers will be depending on our instructions to get them successfully along the route (unless, of course, they see any imminent danger!).

Meanwhile, at the stadium, Guide Dogs staff will be offering people from the local community the chance to learn how to guide a blind or partially sighted person safely and confidently. People often want to help but are too shy to come forward – as an independent vision awareness trainer, I know how important it is to build people’s confidence, so I think this is a great idea.

I’m really looking forward to the whole day. I won’t meet my driver until the morning so we’ll need to do some quick bonding! Our success will depend on teamwork, which is what’s going to make it fun.

My third guide dog, Nan, is incredibly important to me and this is a great chance for me to give something back to Guide Dogs.

The event is free to attend but we hope to attract £50 sponsorship per car and £10 donations from those who train to be sighted guides.

To find out more or book your training slot, call Sue Rowen on 01206 756188 or 07717 517571, or email sue.rowen@guidedogs.org.uk