While browsing FB, I stumbled upon this, bicycle rides for kids and not only kids and any kids; people who are visually impaired. Even if you are an adult, you too can hop on a bicycle. It's not any ole cycle, it's a bicycle made for two. Which means there will always be someone who will be your sight and ride with you. Being your vision.
If this sounds like a whole lot of fun, just imagine the excitement it is for people who probably thought these simple pleasures of life were withheld from them because of an inability. But now they can, thanks to TandemVision.
Let me introduce to you TandemVision – tandem bicycle rides. Tandem cycling opens up a whole new world for people who are visually impaired or disabled by giving them the opportunity to get out on the back of a tandem bicycle and enjoy the simpler things in life.
TandemVision is a not for profit that was birthed from a difficult story. What proved to be a therapeutic exercise for Pierre and his wife now serves a whole community of differently-abled people.
The charity gives children and adults who are blind or partially blind the ability to enjoy riding a bicycle (as a stoker aka the rear rider) with the assistance of tandem bicycles (bicycles with 2 seats or more) aided by a captain/pilot (aka the front rider) that has no vision impairments.
We will leave Pierre Samarasinghe, the man behind TandemVision to share his story of why he started TandemVision if ever you cross paths with him or you can read it here on his website. I can assure you it is a hard story to share, but out of something very painful, he has birthed a blessing to those who would have been unable to experience the simple joys of life.
(Above: Pierre with his son Sidharth)
My grandmother used to say this often to me, and it's also true of the people behind TandemVision: Life is mostly froth and bubble, two things stand like stone. Kindness in another's trouble and courage in your own.
To donate: Visit their funding site at GoFundMe.com/TandemVision
to fund their latest campaigns or contact them to find out how you can make other types of donations such as tandem bicycle maintenance equipment, consumables such as lubricants, degreasers, spare tyres, patch kits, brake cables and pads etc.
Subscribe to the Facebook Page TandemVision to find out more about events and outreaches. You can also volunteer by making a commitment to cycle a Tandem Cycle or ride ahead of the tandems to clear the path.
