A visually impaired woman will be completing the Prudential RideLondon 2016 riding in tandem with her ‘pilot’, to raise money for Sensory Services by Sight for Surrey, which supports people with vision and hearing loss.
Terry James, who has Cone Rod Dystrophy and Nystagmus, hopes to raise at least £500 for the sensory impairment charity which supports individuals in Surrey. In tandem cycling, better known as a “bicycle built for two,” a sighted rider (the ‘pilot’) sits at the front of the bike and communicates what is ahead to the person with vision loss in the back seat (the ‘stoker’). Terry’s husband, Richard, will be Terry’s pilot on the day.
Terry says: “Having used Sensory Service by Sight for Surrey’s services, and volunteered for them, I want to raise funds to support their invaluable work.
“By undertaking this challenge, not only will I be raising money for the charity, but I will also be improving my fitness and resurrecting one of my favourite pastimes -cycling with my husband, through the wonderful Surrey countryside, on our lovely, custom-built tandem. Our bike was a wedding present more than twenty years ago.”
Lou Devine, Marketing and Communication Manager at the charity, says: “It’s down to the generosity of our supporters that we are able to continue raising vital funds to support individuals in a variety of projects. We’d like to thank all our supporters, like Terry, for helping us raise awareness of the work Sensory Services by Sight for Surrey does.”
To sponsor Terry, visit her JustGiving page online: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/TerryJames1
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PHOTO OPPORTUNITY:
Terry will be at our head office in Fetcham on 1 June at midday, with her tandem co-rider and husband, Richard.
NOTES TO EDITORS:
• Sensory Services by Sight for Surrey provides a wide range of services that contribute to the wellbeing and effective social integration of individuals with vision and hearing loss.
• Just £10 can pay for those most in need to attend a Communication Class to learn skills such as Braille or Touch-Typing.
£50 can fund a person to learn and share knowledge of Android/Apple technology at our monthly IT cafes.
• Nystagmus is continuous uncontrolled movement of the eyes. The movements are usually side to side but can also be up and down or rarely in a circular motion.
• Cone rod dystrophy is a group of related eye disorders that causes vision loss, which becomes more severe over time. These disorders affect the retina, which is the layer of light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye. In people with cone-rod dystrophy, vision loss occurs as the light-sensing cells of the retina gradually deteriorate.
• For more press information or opportunities please contact:
Lou Devine, Marketing and Communications Manager
Tel: 01372 377701 Email: ldevine@sightforsurrey.org.uk
