Sir John Major hosts dinner 

The Rt Hon Sir John Major KG CH and Lord Coe, Chairman of the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games, addressed SeeAbility’s Sight Pioneers at a dinner in the private room at Scott’s in London on July 12th.

Sir John became Patron of SeeAbility’s Sight Pioneers in 2006, after being inspired by the charity’s groundbreaking work with people with a visual impairment and additional disabilities. Sir John was only a young boy when his father lost his sight, so has always had a genuine interest in initiatives which can improve the lives of people with a visual impairment. Sir John told guests:

“I was acutely aware how devastating it must be to lose your sight. I realised - even at that young age - that once blindness strikes, people start talking to you as if you don’t understand anything. Those of us with sight are immensely fortunate and should do all we can to help those without”.

Coe, winner of four Olympic medals, has been a Vice President of leading eye care charity SeeAbility, formerly the Royal School for the Blind, for 15 years. SeeAbility provides a range of specialist services for people with sight loss and additional disabilities. Lord Coe was unable to attend the event in person but recorded a short film to address the Sight Pioneers, the charity’s most generous benefactors.

Lord Coe drew parallels between the herculean efforts of Team GB athletes and the people whom SeeAbility supports, to be the best that they can be.

Sir John thanked the guests for their generosity and encouraged them to support SeeAbility’s Olympic fundraising challenge to raise £50,300 by the end of the Paralympics Games on 9th September, which will fund 2,012 hours of one to one specialist support.