An army veteran who lives in Glenrothes is starring in a new TV advert for Sight Scotland Veterans.
The advert emphasises that veterans don't have to lose sense of who they are if they lose their sight. It encourages veterans affected by sight loss to contact Sight Scotland Veterans for support.
Derek Donaldson served in the Army’s Black Watch regiment from 1979 to 1989. In the advert, he is seen cooking a stew at Sight Scotland Veterans’ Linburn Centre.
Derek, 61, said he enjoyed filming the advert, which is on STV and on the Sight Scotland Veterans website.
Derek said: “I never thought I’d be in a TV advert.
“I had to put make-up on. I’ve got a bald head, so they put foundation make-up on it to stop it shining.”
Derek lost his sight just four years ago, at the age of 58, due to diabetic retinopathy.
Derek said: “I’ve been diabetic since I was 40, but just in the last four years it has affected my sight.
“I was driving a class one truck when it happened. I was working as a driver and all of a sudden, everything went all fuzzy. It was quite a shock.”
Derek said: “I can see nothing at all through my right eye and with my left eye, it’s like looking into fog.”
Derek got in touch with Sight Scotland Veterans.
Derek said: “The difference has been night and day since I contacted Sight Scotland Veterans.
“At the moment, my wife and daughter are on holiday for a girl’s holiday, and I’m managing myself. I could never have done that before support from Sight Scotland Veterans. When cooking, I couldn’t read any labels or anything, and see what’s on a packet.”
TV advert: Don't lose sense of who you are because of changes to your sight
In the new TV advert, Derek is stirring a pot in the kitchen.
Derek said: “I was never a gourmet cook, but I was quite good at making a fry-up.
“When you lose your sight, you lose your confidence cutting vegetables and things like that.
“At Sight Scotland Veterans, you learn how to do it safely. I use a ceramic knife so I cannot cut myself. I have a set of scales that talks to you, which tell you the weight you’ve got, which works because I can’t see the numbers. I use a magnifier to read labels.
“I’ve now made pacakes, lemon drizzle cake, minestrone soup, and a jalfrezi curry too.”
The advert was filmed at one of Sight Scotland Veterans’ activity centres, the Linburn Centre, which is in Wilkieston, East Lothian. At the Linburn Centre, veterans with sight loss are supported by experienced staff to become involved in many social activities, including woodwork, cooking, gardening, knitting, archery and even VR gaming. These activities help build crucial social connections, which help reduce the loneliness and social isolation that many veterans with sight loss experience.
"When you lose your sight, you lose your confidence cutting vegetables and things like that. At Sight Scotland Veterans, you learn how to do it safely."
You can refer a veteran to receive our support
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