As a youngster I remember lying on the grass next to the pool at my parent’s house, day-dreaming and listening to the planes overhead. I got so excited when I heard a plane approaching and I was very happy that our house was in the flight path.  However, I’m sure all the neighbours hated the noise.

Being born blind I knew I’d never be able to drive a car but somehow I thought flying might be the way around my transport challenge. I gathered that once you are in the air there is really nothing in your way and planes only come over the house every 5 to 10 minutes... so right there I had a plan…

The funny thing is that the first time I flew on a plane I was only 18 months old.  Mom took me to an eye specialist in Johannesburg to see if they could do anything to fix my eyes. I cannot remember any of it, however maybe the flight was so exciting that the sensation stuck with me.

During my teenage years I shared my passion for flying with a family friend and he managed to get his hands on a radio that could receive the communications from the air traffic control tower at the Cape Town International Airport.  I spent hours listening to the planes getting clearance to take off and land, being diverted etc... it was a dream coming true...

Now, 20 years down the line, I’m about to start my flying lessons.  My aim is to complete my PPL (Private Pilot's License) by November 2007. You may ask why on earth would a blind person want a PPL?! Ha-ha, that is the question…

My goal over the next 12 months is to raise 1 Million Pounds in aid of the Visiontrust initiative - and in so doing support blind people around the globe to overcome their daily challenges.

But how will I raise the 1 million pounds, you may ask?

I will fly the largest jumbo jet in the world from London to New York to set a number of world records. Yes, a jumbo jet, for we will be selling tickets to top executives and celebrities around the world to join me on this historic flight. The profit of these tickets will make up the 1 Million Pounds we will be raising through this event.

I’m looking forward to see you on board of the plane!  Should you not be brave enough to physically join us on the day, why not purchase a virtual seat and help us with this worthy cause..?

Believe me dreams come true, however only if you never stop dreaming.

From next to the pool to the cockpit of a jumbo jet - it may be a big dream, however Walt Disney said “if you can dream it, you can do it”

I’m blind, what is your excuse?

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