Blind Veterans helped by artist

Blind Veterans UK is set to benefit from a proportion of the sales of clothes and mugs being sold by a Jersey artist, it has reported.  

Dawn Monks' creations use the Royal Army Medical Corps cap badge as a design.

The artist, 42, has also been selling products for other military charities.

The St Clement local's grandfather was supported by Blind Veterans UK. She says he inspired her to raise funds for the charity, it reports.

Grandfather Jack Blane was helped by Blind Veterans during later life and was a Royal Army Medical Corps veteran.

The charity helped him be independent when he lost his sight due to macular degeneration.

Dawn says she's drawn military subjects such as portraits and cap badges for several years now, according to the charity.

Though many people pick animals, buildings or landscapes to draw, she wanted to focus on something more unusual, she says.

Of Blind Veterans UK, Dawn has said: "The charity really gave my grandfather a lot of support and I wanted to support them in return."

She said that she had been making clothes featuring a variety of cap badges, and once she reached the RAMC badge, giving some proceeds to Blind Veterans seemed like a natural option for paying tribute to Jack's service and helping a good cause.

The charity items featuring the RAMC cap badge include tops, t-shirts, mugs and tops.

On June 28th, the Exeter Express and Echo reported that the city High Street branch of Specsavers was fundraising for Blind Veterans UK with a camouflage dress-up day, and had been bringing in money for the charity all through the month.

"We are very pleased to be supporting the Blind Veterans, supporting our ex-servicemen and also the importance of eye examinations," store director Jonathan Baumber told the news provider.