13847/1THE Devizes-based Wiltshire Blind Association has employed a specialist fundraising officer to try to recoup the £21,000 a year it lost when the Royal National Institute for the Blind withdrew funding.

The organisation has been trying to replace the money it lost 18 months ago when the national body's own economic problems forced it to cut off grants.

The Wiltshire management committee finally decided the best way of raising money was to get in a professional. They chose Caroline Langmaid, who they already knew for her close work with them when she was employed by the national organisation.

Ms Langmaid said: "Wiltshire is my old stomping ground and, although I am based in Bristol, I know the area well.

"Wiltshire Blind Association has got to raise a minimum of £21,000 a year to cover its costs. It does incredibly valuable work with more than 2,500 registered blind people in the county."

At the association's headquarters in Commercial Road, Devizes, there is a well equipped resource centre that helps blind and partially sighted people to live independently in their own homes. There is a similar facility at Craven House in Swindon.

In addition, the association runs an audio library of taped books and music, and funds talking newspapers.

Co-ordinators also visit blind people in their own homes, though such is their workload, they can only get to their clients once a year.

Ms Langmaid said that wasn't enough. "These people feel very isolated and need lots of contact with people who understand their problems. With more funding, we might be able to afford more co-ordinators and get more visits organised."

The charity gets no support from national or local government and is entirely reliant on donations, bequests and fundraising.

It is looking at various ways of raising money, including getting supporters to go on overseas adventures, which will be heavily sponsored, and take part in sponsored abseiling and parachute jumps.

The charity has already had two offers to run the London Marathon next year, but the association has been unable to secure any charity gold bond places as the organisers, Flora, have a six-year waiting list from other charities hoping to do the same.

Ms Langmaid said: "I knew that the London Marathon was very popular but I really didn't think that there would be a six-year waiting list for the gold bond places.

"I have asked the two runners to apply to Flora directly and hope they get allocated places closer to the date.

"If they are lucky to get a place and are happy to raise money for us, they will get all the support we can offer.

"I'll even go out on a training run with them!"

"We really would appreciate anyone who gets allocated a place in the London Marathon who wants to raise as much as they can for charity, to give me a ring on (01454) 777674 or e-mail caroline.langmaid@btinternet.com"

Ms Langmaid is calling on businesses and individuals across the county to come to the aid of the association by embarking on fundraising efforts on its behalf or to consider donating some of the proceeds from existing charity events to help the local work with the blind.

The Wiltshire Blind Association recently elected its first blind chairman, Giles Currie, from Aldbourne, who took over from John Bright of Corsham.

Mr Currie was welcomed into his new position by the charity's patron, the Marchioness of Lansdowne, at the recent annual meeting held at Dauntsey's School Memorial Hall in West Lavington.