Blind woman to hold fashion show on mountain summit

Tilly Dowler says she wants to give back to the charity that supported her

"I can see that you are there, but with the light behind you, I can't see your face, it's just a blur."

Tilly Dowler is describing what she can see when she looks at me.

She was registered blind in 2022 and has completely lost her central vision because of a genetic condition called Stargardt disease.

Despite this, she has decided to climb Yr Wyddfa, also known as Snowdon, the highest mountain in Wales, with five other blind or partially sighted walkers to raise money for charity.

When they reach the summit, the 26-year-old is hosting a sustainable fashion show.

Tilly, 26, started to lose her sight at the age of 15

Tilly, who is from Castle Donington in Leicestershire, said: "We wanted to do something crazy and make people think, wow, why are they doing that?"

The challenge, named Sightless on Snowdon, aims to raise funds for Leicestershire-based charity Vista, which Tilly credits with supporting her through sight loss.

"When you're diagnosed with sight loss, it's like it's the end of the world and you panic and you think that no-one is going to be there to understand or help you.

"At Vista, everyone understands and they are all really helpful, so I wanted to give back.

"They didn't only help me, they helped my mum. They got me in contact with other organisations that would help, and they are very close to my heart," she said.

Tilly, who started to lose her sight aged 15, said the charity had given her the confidence and training to use a cane.

'Trailblazer'

Tilly's plan to put on a show at the top of the mountain in Wales comes from her love of fashion.

Her pre-loved clothes shop Wanted Wardrobe in Castle Donington donates 10% of its profits to sight loss charities.

"We are very aware that the weather might not be great so what we're going to do is take lots of different clothes in lots of different sizes, head pieces, accessories," she said.

"We're going to pop them on even if it means over our jackets and just give a little bit of a fashion show."

The group of walkers are taking on the mountain on 10 June and have sighted guides to help them along the way.

According to Vista, one in five people are expected to lose their sight across the UK every year, affecting 35,500 people across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.

Louise Wright, CEO of Vista, said: "Tilly is a trailblazer for others living with sight loss.

"We are so grateful for her ongoing support and will be supporting her all the way to the summit of Snowdon and beyond."