Goalball players head to Melbourn to raise awareness of sight loss charity

Goalball players held a drop-in at Melbourn Community Hub to tell others about support for people living with blindness and visual impairments.

County councillor representing Melbourn Susan van de Ven and hub manager Siegmar Parton joined the players for the session to raise awareness of charity Cam Sight.

They spoke about the charity’s rural support service which covers Melbourn and about their goalball team in Cambridge which Warren Wilson, 26, is the chairman, player and coach.

“I lost my sight when I was 19 to leber hereditary optic neuropathy, and people are surprised to learn how I do things, like work a computer and phone,” Warren said.

“At the hub, and at the schools afterwards, I showed people my noisy laptop and phone.”

Warren and fellow goalballer James Hewer also visited Melbourn Village College and primary school.

Councillor Van de Ven said: “The invitation to students and staff to join in playing goalball did two things, provided a new perspective of course, but also drove home the message that Warren Wilson imparted so successfully – that sight loss like any disability is about making adjustments and there is no reason why life cannot be enjoyed to the full.

“To be honest I think that any label of sight loss fell away on the sports hall floor – it was all about playing the game. There were lots of laughs and smiles”

Cam Sight hold a drop-in at the hub on the first Wednesday of every month between 2pm and 4pm. For more information or if you would like to know more about the charity visitwww.camsight.org.uk.

For more on the goalball team, which anyone can play visually impaired or not, email Warren on warren.wilson@hotmail.co.uk.