Walk in Glen's shoes

Saturday 03 June 2017

Glen Robertson was an "inspirational" islander. A soon-to-be counsellor, a supporter of the needy and homeless, a youth club volunteer and disability advocate, Glen was a valued helper of numerous island communities – a duty he carried out while suffering sight loss.

Now islanders are being asked to see things through his eyes in a special walk tomorrow (Sunday) in memory of the 54-year-old who sadly passed away last year.

Organised by EYECAN, a charity supporting islanders with sight problems, along with Glen’s best friend, Linda Murphy, the event will see paired participants tackle a long walk with a simulated sight impairment – either there and back along the Avenue, from Le Fregate to the Burger Bar or via a return journey to St Aubin.

The ‘Walk in My Shoes’ challenge not only aims to give islanders a flavour of the struggles faced by those with sight issues, but pays tribute to Glen’s unwavering commitment to helping others, despite his own health difficulties.

Pictured: 'Walk in My Shoes' will allow islanders the chance to experience life through another's eyes.

Having worked his entire life as a bubbly chef from the 1980s as a fresh-faced 19-year-old, Glen's world was turned upside down as his vision declined in 2012, later leaving him completely blind in both eyes.

Glen was forced to leave his job after diabetes stole his sight, but he wouldn’t let it take anything else from him, instead rising to the challenge and pushing all his efforts into helping others.

He slipped “naturally” into a role at the Sanctuary Trust, providing homeless men with shelter and support, and later became a popular member of St Mary’s Youth Club, as David Vallois remembered:

“The men and staff of Sanctuary respected and admired Glen greatly. He gave us the benefit of his experience, warmth and humour, and his strength, drive and desire to help others will always be remembered." 

His own sight difficulties saw his empathy for others shine as a helper at EYECAN Day Centres, as well as on the Visually Impaired Partnership Board and the Eye Count Support Group.

Video: Glen appeared in this video about how EYECAN empowers sight impaired islanders.

His tireless efforts to raise awareness of disability difficulties never wavered, and Glen was a keen promoter of the philosophy that prevention is better than cure, especially given his own difficulties with diabetes, which saw him lose his life a 54.

In a statement on their Facebook page, EYECAN described Glen as a man who, "...rose above his disabilities with fortitude and humour, always thinking of others. An inspiration and a friend to many."

Chair of Diabetes Jersey Bill O’Brien urged islanders to follow Glen’s message, and take a proactive approach to their health by getting screened at a pharmacy or by a medical practitioner.

“Glen would definitely want to raise awareness of diabetes so that other people can avoid the condition he had and the damage it causes” Jane Vincent, EYECAN’s Operations Director agreed.