Blind man sets off on 245-mile walk for charity

Mr Elliker-Reeve is aiming to raise more than £10,000 for Guide Dogs UK

A man who lost his sight after complications during surgery has set off on a 245-mile (394km) walk from Berwick-upon-Tweed to Bridlington to raise money for Guide Dogs UK.

Andrew Elliker-Reeve, who has previously walked both the Cleveland Way and Wolds Way as part of his fundraising efforts, said this was his longest hike to date.

He is aiming to raise more than £10,000 for Guide Dogs UK to add to the more than £18,500 he has already raised for the charity.

"They [guide dogs] are totally life-changing," said the 64-year-old, from Beeford in East Yorkshire.

Mr Elliker-Reeve went into hospital in February 2020 for elective surgery, but complications meant he went into a coma for 10 days and lost his sight as a result.

"There's little point whingeing about it because I can't change anything that has happened - all I can do is change what I do in the future," he said.

"The one thing I realised when I went suddenly blind is if I'd been on my own I wouldn't have coped.

"I have my wife Rebecca. I am so lucky, so it's nice if I can give a bit back."

Mr Elliker-Reeve's route takes in a number of historic landmarks, including Bamburgh Castle on the Northumberland coast

"Two years ago I did the Wolds Way - the first blind man to do it - and last year I did the Cleveland Way," he said.

"This year I'm being a shade more adventurous and I'm walking from the Scottish Borders back to Bridlington - a mere 245 miles."

He said he had considered doing a shorter coast-to-coast route, but added that he had decided on the north east section of the King Charles III England Coast Path as his wife liked the seaside.

He aims to finish at Bridlington harbour on Sunday, 29 September.

Mr Elliker-Reeve will again be accompanied by volunteer guides during the three-week challenge - 63 of them in total.

In a post on his blog, in which he talks about his daily life, his sight loss and living with a stoma, he wrote: "If you see us please say hello (because I won't see you) and even better, make our collection bucket a little heavier."

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