Blind Kevin climbs the Three Peaks to give gift of guide dog

Kevin Beesting is a familiar sight walking around Yeadon and Guiseley with his guide dog Spencer.

Kevin is in training for the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge on Sunday June 10. The Challenge will see the 65-year-old will complete the 24 mile route through the Yorkshire Dales National Park, taking in the peaks of Pen-y-Ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough – an ascent of 5,200ft (1,585m) within 12 hours, a challenge for many but when you can’t see that challenge becomes far greater.

“I am a bit anxious,” admits Kevin, who will have to leave Spencer at base camp and rely on his two sons Adam and Matthew to be his guides.

“I have run half marathons as Adam as my guide, I just hold on to his elbow very gently so that he keep me in straight line. When it comes to the difficult parts of the Three Peaks I think I will have one of them on either side.”

The Three Peaks Challenge is one of the a number of events Kevin has planned with the aim of raising enough money to name a Guide Dog puppy after his late father Lawrence.

“My dad was a very community spirited man and helped set up our local sports and social club in Yeadon. He loved helping people and naming a guide dog after him would be a fitting legacy,” says Kevin.

“He never got to meet Spencer but he would have been so happy at the difference he has made to my life.”

Kevin was not born blind, he suffers from the hereditary condition retinitis pigmentosa a degenerative condition which leads to eventual blindness.

One of his cousins, and nephew and eight year old grandson have the same genetic condition and it is now known that two of his uncles also did.

“Things have progressed a lot since my uncles went blind and we now know that it is hereditary. We are really hoping there will be a cure soon.”

Kevin started to lose his sight when he was just 15 years old.

“I was quite sporty when I was at school and could see perfectly well during the day but at night I would start bumping into things, but I put it down to being a bit gormless.”

However, a visit to the optician revealed something far more serious.

“He sent me to a specialist in Leeds who diagnosed me as having retinisis pigmentosa. I was pretty okay about it as I could still see perfectly well during the day, everyone else seemed more worried that I was.”

Kevin was determined his condition was not going to hod him back and he went on to become a successful entrepreneur running his own business.

“I really didn’t worry about it that much and just got on with my life.”

With his wife Sue he built up a business from a kitchen table start-up to employing 50 people. Intercity Glazing Services Ltd of Drighlington fitted glazing and aluminium products to commercial premises all over the country.

It was only when he hit 50 that his condition took a turn for the worse.

“Up until then it had been a slow, gradual deterioration. I had been registered as partly sighted but when I was 50 the doctor said he felt he had to register me as blind. Again it was something that seemed to bother other people more than it did me,” says Kevin. But after that his eye sight quickly deteriorated and he was forced to retire from the job he loved.

“I became virtually housebound,” he recalls. “I couldn’t go out the house without help from someone and for a man who is used to being really independent I found it really hard.”

Being stuck at home also had an impact on his self esteem and confidence.

Then two and a half years ago Spencer came into his life.

“He has made such a big difference to me,” says Kevin. “I can now get out of the house without the need to have someone with me. I walk three times a week to visit my elderly mother - something I couldn’t do before. He has really give me my independence and self confidence back.”

When he went to the residential training course to get to know Spencer Kevin decided to start writing a blog about his experience.

“It was my wife’s idea and then the course instructor asked if she could read it out at the end of the course. That was a really big boost to my confidence so I decided to keep going.

The blog, blindkevindogspence.blogspot.co.uk, chronicles Kevin’s life with Spencer. Kevin can see a little bit of light and dark and can se enough to see one letter at a time on the ipad.

“It is a laborious process to write a post but it gives me enormous satisfaction when I have done it.”

Kevin and his family now want to give something back to say thank you for the difference Spencer has made to his life.

“When I am out walking with Spencer while in training for the Three Peaks Challenge I have made friends with so many people that I have never met before. I really feel part of the community, my dad would really have approved.

“These amazing dogs really are life-changers and that is why our team want to raise as much money as we can to help Guide Dogs for the Blind bring up more guide dogs to assist more blind & visually impaired people.

If you would like to sponsor Kevin and give more people with sight loss the opportunity to gain their independence with a guide dog, go www.justgiving.com/TeamKevinAndSpencer

You can read more about Kevin and Spencer’s exploits at http://blindkevindogspence.blogspot.co.uk