On Friday 12 October we had our annual White Cane Safety Day Fun Walk at the beautiful Pretoria Botanical Gardens.

All visually impaired participants received brand new white canes sponsored by Lafarge Community Trust. The canes were handed out by a representative from the Community Trust, Tsholofelo Moshimane before the walk.

Sighted participants were blindfolded to be guided by visually impaired participants.  Even the pouring rain did not dampen the enthusiasm of participants, sighted and blind alike. Participants who went for the walk did so under umbrellas, rain coats and even large beach umbrellas.

Those who did not fancy getting soaking wet opted for playing fun games on the covered concert stage.

After the walk, everyone enjoyed their food parcels and danced to the music provided by blind DJ Rudolf Waters, a former Optima College student.

Everybody had a great time, whilst creating awareness around visual impairment and the abilities of blind people.

We would like to thank the following individuals and institutions, without whom  this day would not have been so successful;

• We are once again grateful to South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) for providing us with the venue and helping with arrangements.

• Lafarge Community Trust once again sponsored white canes for each visually impaired participant of the event. Please click here to read about Lafarge Community Trust’s support of Council over the past two years.

• The blindfolds were sewn and donated by the ladies from the Petals Charity, who heeded our plea. These are really valuable for sensitisation and awareness exercises, and we are sure that we will be able it use for a long time. To find out more about the wonderful work that the Petals do, please click here.

• Bottled water for the event was once again sponsored by Nestlé Waters.

• We would also like to thank Mirilene Swanepoel from Allergan, whose we can always depend on for assistance. Mirilene acted as the official photographer of the event.

• TUKS FM, who we can also always rely on for support when we are in need of help, kindly provided us with volunteers without whom the registration process and handing out of food parcels would not have gone as smoothly as it did.

• Last, but not least,  thank you to the participants, who were not deterred by the weather. Thank you for once again joining the SA National Council for the Blind in raising awareness about visual impairment and the abilities of blind people!