A BLIND veteran from Sandhurst is inviting locals to join him on a 10-mile walk around Windsor Great Park in March.

Dedicated Steve Hipkin, 66, is taking on the challenge in aid of national military charity Blind Veterans UK.

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Starting at the Savill Building at 10am on Saturday, March 14, walkers will follow a route through the park, returning to the Savill Building where participants will receive their medals and have the chance to enjoy a celebratory ‘Brew Up’ cuppa.

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Steve served in the RAF from 1970 to 1977.

He first found help from the charity 18 months ago, when his eyesight suddenly deteriorated, leaving him with only a small amount of peripheral vision.

Steve said: "I'd had macular degeneration for 15 years and I was fine, I was working and then one day I woke up and I'd had a massive bleed overnight in my right eye.

"I was basically completely blind.

"When I lost my sight it was a big shock, I was in a really dark place.

"Blind Veterans UK has dragged me out of that.

"I joined the charity and attended the induction week at their centre.

"From then on I picked up, because they gave me something to look forward to.

"We go out for coffee mornings, lunches, and I recently attended the Remembrance commemorations at the Cenotaph. It's a wonderful charity."

Steve will be taking part in March for Veterans, Windsor, with his family, and hopes that members of the local community will sign up and show their support of the charity and other local blind veterans.

Registration is now open for the event online.

For those wishing to support the charity but not able to undertake the challenge, volunteers are also hosting a ‘Brew Up’ at the Savill Building from 12.30pm - 3pm.

'Brew Up’ is perfect for people wishing to help the charity welcome back the walkers with a hot drink and biscuits before medals are presented to those who have completed the challenge.

To find out more, click here.