Taking place on Thursday 13th September!! One blind man’s daring quest to pilot a hovercraft on the busy waters of the Solent to raise funds for vital medical research

Imagine trying to pilot a fast-moving hovercraft on one of the world’s busiest waterways. Now imagine doing it without being able to see where you are going.

On Thursday afternoon, September 13th, blind charity worker Colin McArthur will experience just that as he takes the controls of Hovertravel’s 130 seater Solent Express.

Under the guidance of a Hovertravel Pilot,leaving from Ryde Hoverport, Colin will steer Solent Express past the pier, forts, ferries and aircraft carriers that share the narrow strip of sea between the mainland and the Isle of Wight

Colin, who lost his sight to Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) 20 years ago, aims to raise both awareness of the hereditary condition and vital funds for research into a cure.

Decades of painstaking research into RP are beginning to bear fruit, with trials of gene therapy under way and stem cell therapy potentially just a few years away.

To find out more about Retinitis Pigmentosa and the work of the BRPS visit www.brps.org.uk or call the Helpline on 0845 123 2354.