A BLIND Somerset veteran has shown his bottle to collect more than £1,000 for charity.
Over the last 18 months, former RAF catering clerk John Brice has been collecting pennies in an old milk bottle in aid of Blind Veterans UK, the national charity for vision-impaired ex-Service men and women.
The 79-year-old, from Weston-super-Mare, launched his Every Penny Counts campaign in July 2024 to give back to the charity which has supported him for the past 11 years.
He asked people across the country to save an old plastic milk bottle or cordial bottle and fill it with loose change which could then be donated.
“Back in 2024, I racked my brain to think what could people do to support blind veterans that wouldn’t cost a lot. Everyone has a milk carton, so I thought, ‘Let’s use it’,” he said.
John remembered a national news story which had reported on people discarding their 1p and 2p coins and went on: “Discarding them into our containers is a much better idea and has now raised over £1,000 to support blind veterans like me.”
John joined the RAF in 1962 at the age of 15 as a boy entrant, serving for more than 26 years as a cook and a catering clerk in the UK, Middle East, Ascension Island and North Africa.
He was discharged with the rank of sergeant in 1988, and in 2006 sadly lost his sight due to age-related macular degeneration.
“I can remember the consultant appointment so clearly, she said I’d lose my central vision and all I heard was, “You’re going to lose your sight in both of your eyes”,” he said.
“I stood outside the hospital stunned and thought to myself, how the devil will I survive this.
“Sometime later, I started to volunteer for Vision North Somerset. I was based at the hospital chatting to people going to their eye appointments. I spotted a leaflet for Blind Veterans UK and applied.
“The year I began receiving support from the charity was life-changing. I was lacking in confidence; I attended an introduction week at one of their centres and remember thinking that everyone else around me was so happy.
“With the support and encouragement of staff and my fellow blind veterans, I soon realised I could still do a million and one things I didn’t think were possible.
“The charity provided me with a magnifying mirror which is an absolute godsend, I wouldn’t be able to shave without it. I also have computer software that allows me to zoom in on the text. This allows me to do everything on my computer including online shopping. I hate to be a pain to others so this means I can do things for myself and not starve.
“I can also use it to plan journeys meaning I can pop out with confidence after doing the preparation.”
Every Penny Counts has been John’s way of giving back to Blind Veterans UK – and he has managed to fill his own milk carton three times, raising more than £1,000 to date.
“This is such an easy and affordable way to donate to charity and I hope others will be inspired by how much I’ve managed to raise by just collecting coins and will join me,” he added.
“The milk bottle has become a talking point for visitors when they visit my house and they feed it with their pennies. Every penny counts these days and if we work together those pennies will make pounds.”
If you, or someone you know, served in the Armed Forces, including National Service, and are now struggling with sight loss, contact the charity on 0800 389 7979 or visit blindveterans.org.uk/gethelp.
READ MORE: North Somerset news from your Leveller
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