Sight for Wight have received a call from Vic Mann, organiser of the annual Wayfarers Randonnee, offering a sizeable donation from the proceeds of the 2024 event.

Mr Mann had read about Sight for Wight’s recent success obtaining a grant from the Vision Fund to purchase three electric tandems. The Island’s oldest working charity won the grant and recently took delivery of the bikes onto the Island. With insurance and front “pilot” being sorted, the new club for the charity’s blind and partially sighted members is due to start in the next few weeks.

Lisa Hollyhead, CEO of Sight for Wight and registered blind, said: “I could not quite believe the call; it came completely out the blue, but the timing is absolutely perfect. The fantastic £3,000 donation has allowed us to purchase a trailer for the tandems which means we can now start from different points of the Island introducing a whole wealth of new opportunities for our members. With permission from John Irvine CEO of Wight Fibre, their Commercial Manager Frazer Munro will be volunteering his time to tow the trailer to and from the different venues.

“We will now also be purchasing two way audio equipment to allow free communication between the sighted pilot and the blind stoker. It is vital that our blind and partially riders are able to freely communicate as they will not be aware of oncoming hazards, corners or differing terrain. With the very generous award we are now able to purchase this equipment upfront before the activity starts.”

Vic Mann said: “We are so pleased that Sight for Wight have started this project getting people onto bikes to enjoy this beautiful Island, these accessible tandems and their trained pilots are such a great opportunity for people.”

Ruth Hollinshead, trustee of Sight for Wight and a guide dog user, attended the trial ride which led to the grant application and said: “The feeling of speed was so elating, as a blind person I walk everywhere so to experience travelling at speed was such a sense of freedom, I felt so safe with my pilot, I cannot wait for the new activity to start.”

Lisa said: “We offer a wide range of activity to our members and the addition of this tandem biking is a real asset giving our members the chance to enjoy more of what the Island offers.”