RNIB's Public Relations Team are always happy to put journalists in touch with people who have benefitted from RNIB's services, have opinions to share about being blind or partially sighted or have inspired others through their voluntary or fundraising work.
Here are a few examples of the types of stories that we have placed in the media:
From the Essex Echo, Feb 17th 2012, by Emma Palmer:
Terri's first class effort raises £75k for the blind
"She is affectionately known as the "crazy stamp lady" and it's clear she is one amazing femail!
Terri Bush has single-handedly raised £75,000 for the Royal National Institute of Blind People just by collecting postage stamps.
The 43-year-old professional swimming teacher has collected millions since she embarked on her stamp duty 20 years ago.
For every kilo of UK stamps she collects she raises £3 for the cause, while she gets £12 for every kilo of overseas stamps that she hoards together.
Last year alone Terri raised more than £12,000 and this year she wants to rake in even more.
From The Guardian Tuesday 10 May 2011, by Cameron Robertson:
'I'm blind. I want you to see what I'll lose if disability benefits are cut'
In a unique insight into a blind woman's life, Diane Marks, wearing a head-camera, shows how she will be affected by the government's proposed benefit cuts. Thousands of disabled people will march on Westminster on Wednesday to voice similar concerns
You can watch the video on The Guardian's website
From The Daily Mirror, 2nd March 2012, by Kevin Garwood:
I went to bed with a headache and woke up blind
One night in February 2000 I went to bed with a terrible headache. When I woke up the next day, I was blind.
At first I was really confused and asked my wife to put the lights on. Then I was rushed to hospital, where I remember having scans that sounded like being in a washing machine.
My pituitary gland had been destroyed by a tumour that had grown and crushed my optic nerve. I had an operation within a few hours.
What I realised after the operation was that it had saved my life but my sight was gone. I had no warning. I couldn't say - "if only I'd done this, or a doctor had done that".
Just months before I'd been to Ireland, Switzerland and the USA, and there I was, if you put me across the road I couldn't find my front door. I had to give up my job, and my passions - motorbikes and photography.
I went on a nine-week Royal National Institute of Blind People rehabilitation course. That made a big difference and I got to meet others who had lost their sight.
But I'm still adjusting and that will never stop.
If you would like to speak to someone about their personal experiences please contact
pressoffice@rnib.org.uk or call 0207 391 2223