Barry Smerdon anticipates the scenery of the Lake Hume Cycle Challenge to be spectacular – though he won’t be able to see any of it.
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The 71-year-old blind Albury man will be riding in the February 25 event for the third time, with friend Geoff Dynan leading the way.
“Tandem bike riding is a great recreational activity for blind people like me, because you can get out there, feel the wind on your face and your front rider gives you a description of the surroundings,” Mr Smerdon said.
“It’s just a great outlet, because normally a blind person doesn’t get to go out in the elements like that.”
The 17th Cycle Challenge will this year support the Albury-Wodonga Regional Cancer Centre Trust Fund in getting the Wellness Centre, a support space for cancer patients and families, up and running.
Mr Smerdon said it was important to keep supporting the cancer centre after the mammoth effort to make it a reality.
“It was such a fantastic effort from all the people who fundraised for it; it’s so needed in a place that’s growing so much,” he said.
“I think the Bellbridge Rotary Club have done a great job putting this ride together.”
Lake Hume Cycle Challenge chairman Ian Moffat said the event raised $22,500 for the AWRCC last year.
“This year we hope to exceed that; we’ve been donating to the cancer centre for a few years before it opened and it was great to see it open,” he said.
“Our (participation) figures show we’re exceeding last year’s numbers by about 10 to 20 per cent.”
Mr Smerdon and Mr Dynan will join six other tandem teams with a vision-impaired cyclist, coming from as far as Melbourne and Canberra.
They will be competing in the 90km ride through Kergunyah, but other ride options include 5km, 10km, 44km and 143km.
For more information or to register, go to lakehumecyclechallenge.com.au.
