BLIND WEEK APPEAL

Running from October 29 to November 4, Blind Week is one of the Royal New Zealand Foundation for the Blind's (RNZFB) main opportunities to generate awareness and support for its cause.

In Stratford, Gene and Narelle Gibson will be among the volunteers "shaking a bucket for Blind Week" at key locations, including Stratford New World and Broadway.

Gene, who is the president of the Stratford RNZFB and suffers from tunnel vision and night blindness, says he, wife Narelle and guide dog Opo will be "doing their bit" and asking people to donate. He points out that the funds raised are allocated on a need basis.

"And you never know when it might be someone you know who needs something."

Gene and Narelle say they get a variety of requests for help from people in the community who approach the RNZFB.

"It might be someone who has a family member elsewhere who is losing their sight, and they want ideas on how they can help that person," says Narelle.

Gene has developed a website to answer some queries that people may have. He says because it is done "from a blindness perspective" it is particularly helpful to people experiencing sight loss as it isn't just theory.

"It is a case of what has worked for me," he says.

The RNZFB has 11,500 members and every day an average of three Kiwis who are blind or have low vision register for membership.

Gene's website is found at: http://homepages.slingshot.co.nz/~hurrikenny/