A man from Essex has raised over £2,000 for Blind Veterans UK, the national charity for vision impaired ex-Service men and women, by climbing the highest peaks of Scotland, England and Wales, as a tribute to his grandpa.
Benjamin Greenblatt, 37, and from Dunmow, took on the 24-hour National Three Peaks Challenge earlier this month conquering Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon all in 23 hours and 53 minutes. Transportation time between the three countries’ largest mountains are included in the 24-hour time restriction making the challenge exceptionally tough.
Blind Veterans UK supported Benjamin’s grandpa, Sydney Cohen, after he lost his sight. Benjamin says:
“I want to raise as much money as possible for Blind Veterans UK in tribute to my dear and beloved grandpa. He was an all-round amazing man loved by his friends and family and will always be remembered.”
In 1952, at the age of 18, Benjamin’s grandpa was called up for National Service and joined the Army, serving in the Royal Army Ordnance Corps. Sydney was discharged after two years with the rank of Private.He lost his sight later in life due to adult vitelliform dystrophy in both eyes which caused blurring in his central vision. Benjamin says:
“Grandpa’s vision gradually got worse; he described what he had as blobs in front of his eyes that he struggled to see around. He began to receive support from Blind Veterans UK in 2021, the charity did a lot for him in the years before his passing providing incredible support, assistance and generosity.
“Grandpa played the ukulele and the charity supplied equipment that magnified his sheet music so he could continue to play and a boombox so he could listen to backing tracks.
“He was always very grateful for the telephone conversations, and in person meet ups, he would have with staff from the charity, especially his Community Support Worker Martha, these were an opportunity for him to talk about his Army days.”
