Ayrshire woman aims to raise £100k for Guide Dogs UK with skydiving challenge
dailyrecord.co.ukA visually-impaired woman from Ayrshire is raising money for Guide Dogs UK through a series of skydives. Dr Elizabeth Marsden, from Prestwick, is aiming to raise an incredible £100,000 for the charity with the UK-wide challenge dubbed “Blind Panic”.
More than 100 people have signed up to support Elizabeth on her challenge including skydivers, guide dog owners, charity staff and volunteers, and their friends and family.Already, the group have raised £38,000 and have completed eight of their 12 scheduled skydives.On Saturday, the group took on their first of three Scottish skydives at St Andrews.
Elizabeth, who is partnered with guide dog Ivan, has been inspired by her own sight loss journey.She said: “I was diagnosed as having glaucoma at 35-years-old, when I was working as a physical education teacher.“The diagnosis was a shock, but as I still had fairly good sight at that point and was still allowed to drive, I just carried on regardless.“I had three children all under the age of 12-years-old at the time, so there wasn’t a chance to think about myself too much.“I had to give up driving 20 years ago, and that was probably the biggest loss for me as it clips your wings of independence.“But as usual, you just have to find a way around a problem.
I was still able to work as my sight had not deteriorated dreadfully, just enough to stop me driving. I was very lucky to be able to continue my exciting and risk-taking career and life.“Finally, after I retired, my glaucoma consultant encouraged me to apply for a guide dog.
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