Motorcyclists ride to end blindness

NEWS RELEASE

RIDE FOR SIGHT

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SEARCHMONT – The year was 1979. Jack was out enjoying an evening motorcycle ride with friends when he realized he couldn’t see the road ahead.

Quick to act, Jack’s riding buddies moved into a close formation around his motorcycle, and used their headlights to guide his way home.

Jack soon learned that he was losing his sight to an incurable blinding eye disease called retinitis pigmentosa.

In hopes of finding a cure, his friends founded the Ride for Sight in support of the Foundation Fighting Blindness – Canada’s largest charity supporting vision research.

Ride for Sight began in 1979 and has grown to seven rides across Canada.

Over 100 motorcyclists and enthusiasts are expected at the 4th annual Ride for Sight-Northern Ontario July 10-12, 2015.

“Ride for Sight weekend is a great party, but what’s even more important, is that we’ve raised over $20 million for sight-saving research,” said Dave Ostrowski-Gallant, volunteer chair of the Northern Ontario Ride for Sight.

Dave is motivated to ride for Carter Syrette, a four-year-old boy from Garden River First Nation who is completely blind from a rare eye disease.

“We see how we can make a change in people’s lives and hopefully find a cure for these diseases. We look forward to growing Ride for Sight Northern Ontario, and to raising even more money to restore hope and sight,” said Dave.

Over 1 million Canadians are touched by retinal eye diseases, like retinitis pigmentosa and age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and that number is growing.

AMD, alone, is the leading cause of vision loss for Canadians over the age of 50.

WHERE:  Searchmont Resort, 103 Searchmont Resort Road, Searchmont, ON P0S 1J0

Friday evening: Bonfire and acoustic jam.

Saturday, July 11 8:30 a.m. - 11 p.m.: Motorcycle parade to Great Lakes Honda, the Batchawana Voyageur then return to Searchmount resort.

The day will also include bike games; speeches & awards, and live entertainment (4 local bands plus local First Nations dancers and drummers).

To register, visit: rideforsight.com.

Motorcyclists are asked to raise a minimum of $75.

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