IAN Wood is registered blind and walks with a stick - but he has never let his disabilities stop him leading life to the full... and helping a York charity in the process.

Over the years, the 26-year-old York man has been sky-diving, white water canoeing and rafting, driving and DJ-ing, and he also works for York Hospital Radio.

Ian, who works at the National Railway Museum, raised £700 for the York Blind and Partially Sighted Society through an exhilarating 10,000 ft freefall skydive.

He went to Tockwith Airfield with other members of the society to discover how it feels to be behind the wheel of a car, taking the vehicle through an obstacle course with help from a qualified instructor.

He also formed his own DJ outfit with the help of a grant from the Prince's Trust, building up a huge collection of CDs.

Now he is to add another string to his bow, by donning a white beard and red outfit and playing Santa Claus for the first time when the society holds its Christmas Fair tomorrow.

The society hopes to raise £500 through the event, which takes place between 10am and 2pm at St Edward the Confessor Church Hall in Tadcaster Road (sat).

The society's fundraising manager, Linda Hill, spoke of her admiration for Ian, who suffers from optic atrophy. "He is a fantastic supporter of the society," she said. "He is always up for anything.

"He never lets being blind stop him from doing anything."

She added that the fair would feature a range of other attractions as well as Father Christmas, including tombola, lucky lollies, bran tub, a raffle with a bike as a prize and crafts.

Meanwhile, the society's funds are set to receive another boost on Sunday with a cartoon snail-racing afternoon at the Acorn Rugby League Sports and Social Club, in Thanet Road.

Linda said the family-friendly event, giving people a chance to bet on cartoon snails taking part in races, would be a first for York.

Updated: 10:43 Friday, December 03, 2004