LLANDUDNO'S Miss Alice has walked ten miles around the town to raise funds for Blind Veterans UK, the national charity for vision-impaired ex-Service men and women.
Emmie Holmes, 11, is the town’s current Miss Alice. As part of the role, Alice has attended a number of public events including an afternoon tea at Blind Veterans UK’s Llandudno Centre of Wellbeing.
Blind veteran Billy Baxter, who is also Llandudno’s town crier, invited Emmie to the Alice in Wonderland themed tea.
Emmie Holmes in the rain.
Emmie said: “I’ve met Billy a few times and he always makes a fuss of me and bows. When I first met him he told me he was blind and how he lost his sight. He also gave me a cuddly goat called Billy.
“Billy has been a real inspiration. I want to be a dance teacher when I grow up but if I don’t make it as one then I definitely want to work for Blind Veterans UK.”
READ MORE: Newly refurbished and expanded Aldi re-opens in Llandudno retail park
Emmie set off from Blind Veteran UK’s Llandudno Centre at 9am on Monday May 30 and completed the walk in just over two and a half hours before finishing back at the centre for a Mad Hatter’s Afternoon Tea alongside the residents.
Emmie said: “Blind Veterans UK helps so many people and I wanted to raise money to help this fantastic place.”
Emmie Holmes with the Cheshire Cat.
Emmie’s mum Sophie said: “I am so proud of Emmie, I am always proud of her. She has loved looking online at what Blind Veterans UK might be able to buy with the money she has raised and is so happy knowing that her efforts are benefitting such a good cause.
“Spending time with the veterans at the Llandudno Centre has been such a privilege for Emmie and she has personally got so much from hearing their war stories. It will have such a benefit to her learning as she can now relate real experiences to what she is taught in school.”
Llandudno's Miss Alice Emmie Holmes
Emmie has already exceeded her £150 fundraising target. If you would like to support Emmie and help her to raise even more money for Blind Veterans UK you can visit her Just Giving page: justgiving.com/emmiemissalice
READ MORE: A heavenly history of church that can be found on the Great Orme
If, like Emmie, you would like to raise money for Blind Veterans UK, you can find lots of ideas on the fundraising page of the Blind Veterans UK website.
Blind Veterans UK supports thousands of blind veterans across the country, but knows there are up to 50,000 more who still need its support to rebuild their lives after sight loss.
If you, or someone you know, served in the Armed Forces, including National Service, and are now struggling with sight loss, then please get in touch. Call 0800 389 7979 or visit blindveterans.org.uk/support
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here