Blind teenager in world-record loch challenge

William to take on feat for service changing the lives of people with sight loss

A blind teenager who raised thousands of pounds for NHS heroes during lockdown is preparing for a new recordbreaking adventure.

William Kent, known locally as the Blind Celt, tackled an ancient Perthshire trail dressed in full Celtic attire to raise money for frontline health workers.

Now the 18-year-old, from Forgandenny, is getting ready for a new type of challenge, which he hopes will get him into the record books.

Next month, he will navigate the waters of Loch Tay on a paddle board.

For the world record, he must paddle while blindfolded for one kilometre of the loch in under six minutes.

The stunt will raise funds for a new online portal, designed to change the lives of people living with sight loss.

William, who lost his sight at the age of nine because of Stargardt’s disease, has been in training at the Scottish Crannog Centre with Perthshire adventurer and WildFox boss David Fox-Pitt.

He said: “I hope to complete this challenge so that I can give back to blind charities, many of which are in desperate need of funds because of the coronavirus pandemic.

“This crisis is one of the worst challenges a blind community has faced, adding to anxiety and depression, and making even carrying out basic shopping during lockdown, and the subsequent restrictions, difficult.”

He added: “When I was diagnosed with Stargardt’s disease at the age of nine, I was devastated and felt hopeless, becoming withdrawn and depressed and it was not easy for me at school.

“It was the efforts of The Scottish Crannog Centre that helped me back up because they saw me as able as opposed to disabled.”

A target of £25,000 has been set, which will help launch the Help See the Blind online service, which is designed to help blind and partially-sighted people achieve their goals and ambitions.

The concept was born out of frustration felt by William’s parents Leslie and Laura, who were concerned about the lack of professional resources for people living with sight loss.

Leslie said: “As a family, we are working with a dedicated team to develop a unique portal for blind people which enables them to be empowered to become gardeners, musicians, politicians, actors, writers, photographers, adventurers and much, much more.

“We see living with blindness or being partially sighted as an enablement to success.”

William has made an crowd-funding appeal for people and businesses to support the venture.

William Kent, known as the Blind Celt, takes to the water on Loch Tay as he prepares for his latest fundraising venture.