A 79-year-old blind veteran has collected more than £1,000 for charity over the past 18 months through an ingenious fundraising scheme using old milk bottles.
John Brice, a former RAF sergeant who lost his vision to age-related macular degeneration in 2006, launched his “Every Penny Counts” initiative in July 2024 to support Blind Veterans UK.
The charity has assisted Mr Brice for 11 years and his campaign offers a simple method for supporters to contribute without significant expense.
He encourages people nationwide to save plastic milk or cordial bottles and fill them with spare coins for donation to the organisation.
“Back in 2024, I racked my brain to think what people could do to support blind veterans that wouldn’t cost a lot. Everyone has a milk carton, so I thought, let’s use it,” Mr Brice said.
The Weston-Super-Mare resident was inspired after reading a report about people throwing away their 1p and 2p coins.
“Discarding them into our containers is a much better idea and has now raised over £1,000 to support blind veterans like me,” he said.
Having filled his milk bottle three times personally, Brice hopes his success will encourage others to participate.
John Brice has developed an ingenious method to raise money for charity
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“This is such an easy and affordable way to donate to charity, and I hope others will be inspired by how much I’ve managed to raise by just collecting coins and will join me,” Mr Brice said.
“The milk bottle has become a talking point for visitors when they visit my house, and they feed it with their pennies.
“Every penny counts these days, and if we work together, those pennies will make pounds.”
He enlisted in the RAF in 1962 as a boy entrant, joining at just 15.
John Brice suggests saving up coins in empty milk bottles
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During his military career spanning more than 26 years, he worked initially as a cook before becoming a catering clerk.
His service took him across the globe, with postings in the UK, the Middle East, Ascension Island and North Africa.
He left the forces in 1988 holding the rank of sergeant.
Nearly two decades after his discharge, Mr Brice received devastating news about his eyesight.
He recalled: “I can remember the consultant appointment so clearly, she said I’d lose my central vision and all I heard was ‘You’re going to lose your sight in both of your eyes.’
“I stood outside the hospital, stunned and thought to myself, how the devil will I survive this?”
Following his diagnosis, Mr Brice began volunteering with Vision North Somerset, where he was stationed at the hospital speaking with patients attending eye appointments.
It was there he came across a leaflet for Blind Veterans UK and decided to apply for support.
The veteran was inspired to launch the campaign after hearing people were throwing away pennies
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“The year I began receiving support from the charity was life-changing. I was lacking in confidence; I attended an introduction week at one of their centres and remember thinking that everyone else around me was so happy.
“With the support and encouragement of staff and my fellow blind veterans, I soon realised I could still do a million and one things I didn’t think were possible,” he said.
The organisation equipped him with a magnifying mirror, which he describes as “an absolute godsend” for shaving, along with computer software enabling him to enlarge text for online shopping and journey planning.
Mr Brice declared: “I hate to be a pain to others, so this means I can do things for myself and not starve!”