So to kick things off, I'm joined by Dale Pierce. Hello, Dale.

So to kick things off, I'm joined by Dale Pierce. Hello, Dale.

Hey. How are you today?

Hey. How are you today?

I am good as early as it is to today. Your journey with blindness has been a fairly quick one, from what I gather.

I am good as early as it is to today. Your journey with blindness has been a fairly quick one, from what I gather.

Yeah. So that almost two years ago, or just over two years ago. Um. I'm 49 now, so at 47, lost sight in my left eye. Um, overnight it was a central retinal vein occlusion. So basically, a stroke in the eye is the simple term. Went to bed with a headache and woke up with no sight. My left. I worked through all that process, through doctors and some laser surgeries and things. And four months later, I was at work and the right eye started to let go. So I was awake at the time, so rushed to the hospital, got some treatment. So we saved a little bit of sight in that one. That was coming to May of 2023. So we're not even two years into being legally blind yet. So yeah, it's been a very, very rapid journey.

Yeah. So that almost two years ago, or just over two years ago. Um. I'm 49 now, so at 47, lost sight in my left eye. Um, overnight it was a central retinal vein occlusion. So basically, a stroke in the eye is the simple term. Went to bed with a headache and woke up with no sight. My left. I worked through all that process, through doctors and some laser surgeries and things. And four months later, I was at work and the right eye started to let go. So I was awake at the time, so rushed to the hospital, got some treatment. So we saved a little bit of sight in that one. That was coming to May of 2023. So we're not even two years into being legally blind yet. So yeah, it's been a very, very rapid journey.

Wow. I mean, that would be quite, quite an adjustment as well. I mean, you I'm presuming you had normal vision to start out with.

Wow. I mean, that would be quite, quite an adjustment as well. I mean, you I'm presuming you had normal vision to start out with.

Yeah. Oh, well, glasses, like, you know, half the population, but yeah, definitely. I was had normal sight and was happily running my own business as a freelance chef and consultant in the hospitality industry, and was ticking along fantastically. And then things went slightly pear shaped.

Yeah. Oh, well, glasses, like, you know, half the population, but yeah, definitely. I was had normal sight and was happily running my own business as a freelance chef and consultant in the hospitality industry, and was ticking along fantastically. And then things went slightly pear shaped.

I can imagine. So you've got a small amount of vision. Is it workable? I mean, is it something that's it's all vision is useful. But I mean, is it useful for for you now doing what you're doing?

I can imagine. So you've got a small amount of vision. Is it workable? I mean, is it something that's it's all vision is useful. But I mean, is it useful for for you now doing what you're doing?

Yeah. So I had to quit my job because I was a chef by trade, so the hands on stuff was not practical. It's not safe for me to be in the commercial kitchen, but I'd still do a tiny little bit of consulting here and there to help some people out. And it's about relearning and adjusting to life, I guess, as a fairly significantly vision impaired person. So, you know, I've got all the tech around me that helps me navigate the world and all those type of things. Um, I've got my seeing eye dog, Diana, who's I've had for seven months, and she's amazing. So in terms of that, I can get out and about and be independent and all those things. Learning computer skills is the biggest step that I'm finding so that I don't have to look at a screen. So it's learning to use Jaws systems and things like that so that I can not stress the eye out anymore, so that when I do go into some more serious work, that I'm not going to lose any more sight if I can help it.

Yeah. So I had to quit my job because I was a chef by trade, so the hands on stuff was not practical. It's not safe for me to be in the commercial kitchen, but I'd still do a tiny little bit of consulting here and there to help some people out. And it's about relearning and adjusting to life, I guess, as a fairly significantly vision impaired person. So, you know, I've got all the tech around me that helps me navigate the world and all those type of things. Um, I've got my seeing eye dog, Diana, who's I've had for seven months, and she's amazing. So in terms of that, I can get out and about and be independent and all those things. Learning computer skills is the biggest step that I'm finding so that I don't have to look at a screen. So it's learning to use Jaws systems and things like that so that I can not stress the eye out anymore, so that when I do go into some more serious work, that I'm not going to lose any more sight if I can help it.

Well, yeah, that's something that the big, wider world doesn't really understand much is is eye strain. So the less vision you have, the more you've got to use what you've got. And yes, the you can get migraines from it. And the ever lovable visual migraine. Have you had one of those yet?

Well, yeah, that's something that the big, wider world doesn't really understand much is is eye strain. So the less vision you have, the more you've got to use what you've got. And yes, the you can get migraines from it. And the ever lovable visual migraine. Have you had one of those yet?

Um, yes. So numerous. And um, I'd started work and last year for a little bit just to test the waters and the I actually dropped sight significantly through that process. And the doctors went, yeah, you probably should sit back down and rest it for a little bit. So we're back in the healing process and you will restart the journey on employment like serious employment down the track.

Um, yes. So numerous. And um, I'd started work and last year for a little bit just to test the waters and the I actually dropped sight significantly through that process. And the doctors went, yeah, you probably should sit back down and rest it for a little bit. So we're back in the healing process and you will restart the journey on employment like serious employment down the track.

So I'm guessing Vision Australia has played a fairly large part in the last few years of your life.

So I'm guessing Vision Australia has played a fairly large part in the last few years of your life.

Yes. Um, mum's actually legally blind herself. She's got macular. So in late 60s, early 70s, she got macular. So I've been dealing with mum's vision loss when even I had sight so talked about Vision Australia lots. Had a little bit to do with mum's work through with them to help with magnifiers and some OT work and things like that. So I knew about VA anyway, and as soon as the sight dropped significantly and that day I got told yep, it's not coming back, you're legally blind. It was pretty much straight to VA on the phone. Let's what do I need to do? Help with NDIS, help with Centrelink, all those things. And then it was assessments to see what services I could access so that I could start being independent again. So bas been a huge part over the last couple of years and part of that as well is peer support. So I'm also I'm very much an advocate. I have been in hospitality and I went, well, I might as well continue that in my new life as vision impaired. So I'm on the client reference group for Vision Australia as well. I've jumped into that very quickly. And it's not just about me speaking up and going, this is what vision impaired people need, but it's also the peer support I get from the others in the group that are amazing from and all site levels from 100% blind to probably a bit more than what I've got. So it's fantastic to be able to chat to that group regularly as well. So as a peer support factor.

Yes. Um, mum's actually legally blind herself. She's got macular. So in late 60s, early 70s, she got macular. So I've been dealing with mum's vision loss when even I had sight so talked about Vision Australia lots. Had a little bit to do with mum's work through with them to help with magnifiers and some OT work and things like that. So I knew about VA anyway, and as soon as the sight dropped significantly and that day I got told yep, it's not coming back, you're legally blind. It was pretty much straight to VA on the phone. Let's what do I need to do? Help with NDIS, help with Centrelink, all those things. And then it was assessments to see what services I could access so that I could start being independent again. So bas been a huge part over the last couple of years and part of that as well is peer support. So I'm also I'm very much an advocate. I have been in hospitality and I went, well, I might as well continue that in my new life as vision impaired. So I'm on the client reference group for Vision Australia as well. I've jumped into that very quickly. And it's not just about me speaking up and going, this is what vision impaired people need, but it's also the peer support I get from the others in the group that are amazing from and all site levels from 100% blind to probably a bit more than what I've got. So it's fantastic to be able to chat to that group regularly as well. So as a peer support factor.

I think that is probably the most important thing. I mean, I've went through the special education system in the Northern Territory. And the biggest thing I got out of that was dealing with other people with a vision impairment. And because of the eye conditions were so different. We sort of learnt tricks and tips off each other. So I mean, yeah, it's it's nice to see that that is still very much a factor in, um, well, in want of a better word, new blind eyes like yourself.

I think that is probably the most important thing. I mean, I've went through the special education system in the Northern Territory. And the biggest thing I got out of that was dealing with other people with a vision impairment. And because of the eye conditions were so different. We sort of learnt tricks and tips off each other. So I mean, yeah, it's it's nice to see that that is still very much a factor in, um, well, in want of a better word, new blind eyes like yourself.

Yes. Um, and you can feel free to call me that. I'm a newbie in the world compared to most people in the group and all of that. So yeah, it was it's I'd start to learn things and I guess I'm because I'm quite out there. I'm still teaching. I may be throwing some ideas that the others that they go, oh, you do that? And I go, well, I give it a shot. So, um, so I think so we sort of mix and match in how we go, but it's really, really amazing group that I'm in. And it's led me to a lot of new contacts within Vision Australia, but also the blind low vision community as well.

Yes. Um, and you can feel free to call me that. I'm a newbie in the world compared to most people in the group and all of that. So yeah, it was it's I'd start to learn things and I guess I'm because I'm quite out there. I'm still teaching. I may be throwing some ideas that the others that they go, oh, you do that? And I go, well, I give it a shot. So, um, so I think so we sort of mix and match in how we go, but it's really, really amazing group that I'm in. And it's led me to a lot of new contacts within Vision Australia, but also the blind low vision community as well.

Has there been any surprises on your again journey? Uh, so anything that sort of happened or that's really sort of surprised you and you're going, I really wouldn't have thought that, um, would have, you know, been the case or, you know, I mean, would it be good or bad?

Has there been any surprises on your again journey? Uh, so anything that sort of happened or that's really sort of surprised you and you're going, I really wouldn't have thought that, um, would have, you know, been the case or, you know, I mean, would it be good or bad?

Well, I guess the big thing that's always got me is you actually know, there's humility and great humanity in people of all ages and all races and all everything. Because as an independent person, I never public public transported it. I was in my car, I was I never asked for help. I was a man. Um, I say that loosely. Um, so I never reached out as much as what I have now. And the beauty of being more vulnerable, I guess, is that you have to ask those questions of people you don't know in the street, and you can't see their face, and you don't know what's going on necessarily. And I've had anything from teenagers, guys and girls all the way to the elderly and anything in between. The burly construction workers, you name it all. Go! Hey, do you need a hand or are you okay? Or. You know. And most of the time I'm okay. But sometimes I go. I'd really love a hand, you know. Or can you point me in the right direction? So I guess that humanity that I think a lot of us probably think is lost a bit because, you know, some generations go, oh, that generation's just, you know, they're insular and do what they do and don't care and all that. But reality is they do. It's just a matter of no one asks because they don't think they need to.

Well, I guess the big thing that's always got me is you actually know, there's humility and great humanity in people of all ages and all races and all everything. Because as an independent person, I never public public transported it. I was in my car, I was I never asked for help. I was a man. Um, I say that loosely. Um, so I never reached out as much as what I have now. And the beauty of being more vulnerable, I guess, is that you have to ask those questions of people you don't know in the street, and you can't see their face, and you don't know what's going on necessarily. And I've had anything from teenagers, guys and girls all the way to the elderly and anything in between. The burly construction workers, you name it all. Go! Hey, do you need a hand or are you okay? Or. You know. And most of the time I'm okay. But sometimes I go. I'd really love a hand, you know. Or can you point me in the right direction? So I guess that humanity that I think a lot of us probably think is lost a bit because, you know, some generations go, oh, that generation's just, you know, they're insular and do what they do and don't care and all that. But reality is they do. It's just a matter of no one asks because they don't think they need to.

Early next month, Australia begins its fund raising exercise. So 100 K your way. And the idea is to fundraise, to get sponsors, to sort of find out how people like us get by, because we tend to exercise a lot more anyway. So but you're doing things just a little bit differently, aren't you?

Early next month, Australia begins its fund raising exercise. So 100 K your way. And the idea is to fundraise, to get sponsors, to sort of find out how people like us get by, because we tend to exercise a lot more anyway. So but you're doing things just a little bit differently, aren't you?

Yeah. So I exercise a lot. And I found running is a very useful tool for me, not only to clear my head, but it obviously helps my cardio system and my vascular, which is part of what went wrong with my eyes to start with. So that's how I actually got into running. I wasn't a runner before. Slight loss. So this is very new to me as well. So I get out and I run and, you know, jog and do trail running and all the weird and wonderful things out there. And I was fortunate enough that because of my work with Vision Australia, that they know about me and what's going on, and they asked me to be one of the client ambassadors for Vision Australia's 100 K.o.a, which is amazing. And, um, because I can do 60 or 80 days a week a lot of the time with my training. I mean, why don't I just do it all in one day? So I've put myself a serious challenge of doing the whole 100km in one day on a treadmill. And my support worker, who's my running guide as well, is joining me. So we'll be doing 200 days. Wow. Um, at a minimum. And he. And hopefully we get a lot of people at the gym that we're doing it at in Ballarat, which is the Planet Fitness at Delacombe. They have come on board and been amazing to open up their doors for the entire day, free of charge to anyone who wants to come down, and hopefully we do a lot more than 200 K's. But the aim is to start at midnight and we're not going to stop until we're there. So we've got our breaks and lunch and dinners and probably a nap somewhere in the middle, but the aim is to be finished, hopefully around 6 p.m. at night.

Yeah. So I exercise a lot. And I found running is a very useful tool for me, not only to clear my head, but it obviously helps my cardio system and my vascular, which is part of what went wrong with my eyes to start with. So that's how I actually got into running. I wasn't a runner before. Slight loss. So this is very new to me as well. So I get out and I run and, you know, jog and do trail running and all the weird and wonderful things out there. And I was fortunate enough that because of my work with Vision Australia, that they know about me and what's going on, and they asked me to be one of the client ambassadors for Vision Australia's 100 K.o.a, which is amazing. And, um, because I can do 60 or 80 days a week a lot of the time with my training. I mean, why don't I just do it all in one day? So I've put myself a serious challenge of doing the whole 100km in one day on a treadmill. And my support worker, who's my running guide as well, is joining me. So we'll be doing 200 days. Wow. Um, at a minimum. And he. And hopefully we get a lot of people at the gym that we're doing it at in Ballarat, which is the Planet Fitness at Delacombe. They have come on board and been amazing to open up their doors for the entire day, free of charge to anyone who wants to come down, and hopefully we do a lot more than 200 K's. But the aim is to start at midnight and we're not going to stop until we're there. So we've got our breaks and lunch and dinners and probably a nap somewhere in the middle, but the aim is to be finished, hopefully around 6 p.m. at night.

Having been a runner myself. There are some benefits to it, but also, well, my ankles, I got to admit, are shot. How is the soft tissue injuries been going?

Having been a runner myself. There are some benefits to it, but also, well, my ankles, I got to admit, are shot. How is the soft tissue injuries been going?

I have had some miners and oddly enough, about three weeks ago I actually in a trail running training run that I had, um, at a local sort of Mount Buninyong, which is the local hill here in Ballarat. I actually took a bit of a rolled ankle, so I've been.

I have had some miners and oddly enough, about three weeks ago I actually in a trail running training run that I had, um, at a local sort of Mount Buninyong, which is the local hill here in Ballarat. I actually took a bit of a rolled ankle, so I've been.

Doing that a little bit.

Doing that a little bit.

But at the same time there's probably not a bad thing because I was pushing pretty hard and a bit of a rest has helped the rest of the body catch up, I think, to be honest. So yeah, so I'm going to be fighting fit ready for the 1st of April. And um, yeah, we're just going to take our time. And if it takes a little bit longer than we expect, that's okay. We're not setting a hard time limit of this is what has to be done. So if I need to take an extra hour's rest or walk it a bit slower, or jog a bit more, or whatever it may be, that's what the day is going to be.

But at the same time there's probably not a bad thing because I was pushing pretty hard and a bit of a rest has helped the rest of the body catch up, I think, to be honest. So yeah, so I'm going to be fighting fit ready for the 1st of April. And um, yeah, we're just going to take our time. And if it takes a little bit longer than we expect, that's okay. We're not setting a hard time limit of this is what has to be done. So if I need to take an extra hour's rest or walk it a bit slower, or jog a bit more, or whatever it may be, that's what the day is going to be.

So if having a disability teaches you one thing and that's limitations and and the beauty of having a limit. Having those limitations is knowing how to surpass them as well. I mean, that's that's been my observation anyway. I mean, what do you what would you think of that statement?

So if having a disability teaches you one thing and that's limitations and and the beauty of having a limit. Having those limitations is knowing how to surpass them as well. I mean, that's that's been my observation anyway. I mean, what do you what would you think of that statement?

Totally agree. Most people have resilience built in. Um, once you start having disability, that resilience factor amplifies, I believe because you do have to figure out, overcome, adapt all of those things and just pushed through. Whether it's a system, whether it's protocols, whether it's just life in general. Some days to get to the shops, you've got to figure it out. So when I build that into my running and stuff, I'm not fast. I know I'm not fast. I plod along and do my thing, but at the same time, I figure it out and I get there. And that's I guess the like the whole factor is I can do it. It's just a matter of how long everyone can have a shot at it, and maybe not the full 100 days if you're not ready for it. But everyone can jump on a treadmill and do a kilometer, and that's what I'm hoping of that day. People can go, he's done that in a in a day. Let's get our 100 K's done. Let's throw some money at Vision Australia so that they can support other blind, low vision people.

Totally agree. Most people have resilience built in. Um, once you start having disability, that resilience factor amplifies, I believe because you do have to figure out, overcome, adapt all of those things and just pushed through. Whether it's a system, whether it's protocols, whether it's just life in general. Some days to get to the shops, you've got to figure it out. So when I build that into my running and stuff, I'm not fast. I know I'm not fast. I plod along and do my thing, but at the same time, I figure it out and I get there. And that's I guess the like the whole factor is I can do it. It's just a matter of how long everyone can have a shot at it, and maybe not the full 100 days if you're not ready for it. But everyone can jump on a treadmill and do a kilometer, and that's what I'm hoping of that day. People can go, he's done that in a in a day. Let's get our 100 K's done. Let's throw some money at Vision Australia so that they can support other blind, low vision people.

And of course we will be supplying links to your page on the on the podcast notes. And so people can keep an eye on how Dale goes from one runner to another. Dale, it's been nice speaking to you and, um, run.

And of course we will be supplying links to your page on the on the podcast notes. And so people can keep an eye on how Dale goes from one runner to another. Dale, it's been nice speaking to you and, um, run.

Well, yeah. Thanks so much. Appreciate it.

Well, yeah. Thanks so much. Appreciate it.