Army Soldier Prepares for First Marathon to Support Blind Veterans Charity
A serving British Army soldier from Lincolnshire is gearing up to run his first marathon this April to raise vital funds for Blind Veterans UK, the national charity that supports his vision-impaired grandfather.
Jack Bond, 26, from Sleaford, will take on the Newport Marathon on April 19 alongside three Army friends from the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers: Zach Giordano, Kristiaan Parsons, and Nathan Massey. The team aims to complete the 26.2-mile course in 3 hours and 40 minutes while raising £1,000 for the charity.
Family Military Legacy and Sight Loss Journey
Jack's grandfather, Terry Bond, 80, from Ruskington, began losing his sight approximately three years ago due to macular degeneration. Terry served with distinction in the 1st Battalion Royal Green Jackets for 22 years, with postings including Hong Kong, Norway, Northern Ireland, Cyprus, Germany, and the Falkland Islands before retiring as a warrant officer class 2 in 1987.
"Prior to losing his sight, grandad was always a very independent man and was strong as an ox," Jack explained. "But when he first lost his sight, he wasn't that man anymore. We used to go fishing together, but we can't do that now. As a family, we try to help him out as much as we can without stepping on him."
Terry described the emotional impact of his sight loss: "I became withdrawn and didn't see the point to anything. I could no longer go fishing or drive, so I'd lost my independence and suddenly found myself reliant on others, which was really hard for me as I don't like to be a burden."
Blind Veterans UK's Transformative Support
Since 2024, Terry has received comprehensive support from Blind Veterans UK, which has dramatically improved his quality of life. The charity provided long cane training, loaned him a magnifying reader for letters, helped him understand his entitlements, and connected him with other blind veterans through social activities.
"I've got purpose again and have been lifted up," Terry said. "Blind Veterans UK has done so much for both me and my wife; it's unbelievable. I enjoy going to coffee mornings where I meet other blind veterans, and we have a lot of military banter which I've missed."
Jack expressed his gratitude for the charity's work: "I'm really happy that Grandad is looked after by Blind Veterans UK. They also support my grandmother. What the charity does for people like my grandad is phenomenal, and I want to do something to enable them to support more veterans like him."
Marathon Training and Fundraising Goals
With less than three months remaining until the marathon, Jack is in full training mode, following guidance from one of his teammates who has previous marathon experience. "The distance is daunting, but I know it's doable," Jack said. "The most important thing is that the money we raise will go directly to helping people like my grandad."
Terry expressed immense pride in his grandson's efforts: "Jack makes me so proud. I was proud when he joined the Army, and I was beyond proud when he came to me to say he was running a marathon to support Blind Veterans UK. I'm hoping that, as well as raising money for the charity, he will raise awareness among serving troops so that if they lose their sight, they will know where to go for help and support."
Blind Veterans UK supports thousands of blind veterans across the country but knows there are many thousands more who still need its support to rebuild their lives after sight loss.
