ThameNews.Net

18/07/12...Thame businessman to cycle for sight charity -

THAME businessman and resident, Steve Young, is to undertake a 250km (156 mile) charity cycle ride from his home to Harmer Hill in Shropshire, on July 21. Steve is raising money for international sight-saving charity, ORBIS and the cancer charity MacMillan.

Steve, 42, who will be undertaking the ride with his friend Andrew Haxton, is mainly a mountain biker but he has been training for his challenge both in his home area and whilst on holiday in Corsica - but the greatest distance he has so far completed is just 88km!

"I'm hoping we will get to Harmer Hill in under 14 hours - and that the weather will be kind!" Steve commented.

Steve became aware of the work of the sight-saving charity through a friend who works for the organisation and as well as raising funds to help ORBIS, he will be splitting the money raised between ORBIS and the cancer charity, MacMillan in memory of his grandmother who died of cancer. Steve's company, Downtown Recruitment, based in Thame, will be donating £500 to the effort but Steve is determined to double that!

According to the World Health Organization, 39 million people worldwide are blind - yet 80% suffer needlessly. Their blindness could have been prevented or treated. 90% of the blind live in the developing world. £10 can distribute antibiotics to 40 children with contagious eye infections that cause blindness. It's also only £19 to perform sight-restoring surgery on ORBIS' amazing Flying Eye Hospital airplane. Throughout 2012 it will be visiting The Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, China, Ethiopia and Zambia.

If you would like to support Steve's efforts please visit:
http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/SteveYoung42

ORBIS is an international charity, dedicated to preserving and restoring the sight of the poorest people in the poorest communities across the world. Since its foundation in 1982, ORBIS has provided 18 million people with eye care treatment. The charity has worked in 89 developing countries and improved the skills of over 300,000 local doctors and nurses. It has taken hundreds of health care professionals from the UK and other developed countries to treat patients and train staff around the world.

At the heart of ORBIS's work is the Flying Eye Hospital - a 'hospital with wings'. In 2012 ORBIS celebrates its 30th birthday. www.orbis.org.uk