Walking group aims to connect with fundraiser
Founder is looking for people to get involved
A Guide Dogs volunteer is appealing for locals to put their best foot forward for a cause close to her heart.
Greenhills mum Pauline Hart was a virtual prisoner in her own home after losing her sight to diabetes 20 years ago.
Forced to give up her job as a cardiac nurse at Glasgow’s Royal Infirmary, four years passed before she found a new lease of life with her trusty guide dog Leila.
Three years ago Pauline started walking group RNIB Connect Walk and Talk to help provide activities for people with sight loss in her community.
Now she is appealing for more members to join in the fun and help support a fundraiser for Visibilty Scotland.
The group will be lacing up their walking shoes at James Hamilton Heritage Loch in Stewartfield at 10.30am tomorrow (Thursday) in aid of the charity.
Pauline, 57, told the News: “Three years ago I started up a walking group in East Kilbride for people with a visual impairmant and their friends, carers and family.
“We meet on a Monday morning at 10.30am at loch and we walk round it twice.
“The aim of RNIB Connect is to reach out to people within the community who have a sight loss and to get them invoved in different activities.
“We’re trying to get more people out and about to be active and see how much better it makes you feel physically and mentally.
“I was stuck in the house for four years after I lost my sight. Walking just makes me feel so much better and I love meeting new people.
“Even just getting out for half an hour a day walking makes such a difference.”
Pauline has volunteered with Visibility Scotland for 12 years and says the charity played a huge part in her recovery.
She added: “All the charities I am involved in have played a big part in my recovery from getting over the shock of losing my sight. I want to help in any way I can to give something back.
“You pay £5 to register for the fundraiser and that gets you a coffee and a scone in the cafe after the walk and I will be accepting donations for the charity.”
Pauline will also be supported on the day by her brother Billy McCabe.
The former EK beat cop is also a keen walker and heads up the local group, Murray 12 Walkers, which has gained 161 members in just over a year.
Billy hopes to encourage more local folk to get out and about in the great outdoors.
“We walk at the loch most days so some of us are going to come along to show our support”, said carer Billy, 58.
“We’re all novice walkers but we’ve went from two laps of the loch – about a mile-and-ahalf – to regularly doing eight mile walks and we’re starting to branch out to wind farms and other places.
“There are lots of local rambling groups but with our group folk can just come out their house and go for a wee ander without having to travel 40 miles to do a five mile walk.
“What we love about the loch is a whole variety of people can come along and do their own thing – whether its walking two laps or 10.
“Come along next week and help raise money for a good cause with a friendly group of people.”
Murray 12 Walkers meet at the loch every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 11am.