The founders of a retro-themed show which is donating money to Guide Dogs got behind the wheel of a 4x4 blindfolded to better understand the impact sight loss has on a person.

Brothers David and Chris Hall, the brains behind the Total Retro show taking place in Crooklands next month, were given the challenge by Ella Wadsworth, a student from Kendal who was pronounced severely sight impaired (previously ‘blind’) at the age of 16.

The show is donating its receipts to the UK charity Guide Dogs and the driving event at The Outdoor Adventure Company in Old Hutton, near Kendal, was designed to give the brothers a brief sense of the impact that sight loss has on a person.

Miss Wadsworth, who is in her final year of Religious Studies at Lancaster University, said: “I’m hoping that they got a greater understanding of the lives that they are helping to change by helping Guide Dogs.”

Miss Wadsworth was diagnosed with nystagmus at birth. This is an involuntary, repetitive movement of the eyes that can lead to limited vision. During her GCSEs a small brain tumour was also discovered sitting on her optic nerve.

MORE TOP STORIES:

Miss Wadsworth now has hardly any sight in her right eye, and almost no peripheral vision in her left. She described how her own guide dog - a golden retriever named Katie - had changed her life:

“Before I had Katie, I didn’t want to go anywhere... I became quite insular, I didn’t want to do anything,” she said.

“I definitely wouldn’t have gone to university without her - I wouldn’t have had the confidence to walk around the campus with so many people.”

She will also be attending the Total Retro show next month, along with Katie and other Guide Dogs service-users and volunteers.

The event on 12 May will see an array of all things retro - from cars and motorbikes through to clothing and music - descend on the Westmorland County Showground, Crooklands. All money raised will be donated to the charity Guide Dogs.

For more information visit https://www.totalretroshow.co.uk.