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Posted by Cycle for Sight, Thu Apr 12 2012 at 11:11 pm
Cycling Fundraiser - Towards a Cure for Blindness - Ottawa - June 3, 2012.
Ottawa, April 11, 2012 - Passionate fundraisers get on their bikes and take to the road on Sunday, June 3 for the 3rd annual Cycle for Sight, the only cycling fundraiser for vision research in Canada. Cyclists, including those living with vision loss, will raise money for the Foundation Fighting Blindness, funding innovative eye research at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute and other universities and hospitals across Canada.
The 3rd Annual Ottawa Cycle for Sight is offering two challenging cycling routes along the Rideau River for registrants to choose from: First, a 60 km ride from Manotick to Kemptville and back, or a longer route that will take riders on a 100 km trip between Manotick to Merrickville. The ride will be fully-supported with roadside assistance, rest stops, refreshments and good cheer provided by local Lions Clubs en route.
“My father has retinitis pigmentosa (a blinding eye disease), so the issue of vision loss is very close to me. It is important that we raise awareness for The Foundation Fighting Blindness, to increase our ability to fund vision researchers in the search for a cure for retinal degenerative diseases.” says Philip Zunder, Cycle for Sight Ottawa Committee Chair. “I hope one day all of our visually impaired cyclists will be able to enjoy the scenery en route, and we are raising money to make that possible.”
There is no better time to be supporting retinal eye research as promising stem cell and gene therapies are at the cusp of human clinical trials. Major studies to develop sight-saving treatments are happening right now at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute. Dr. Valerie Wallace is leading a $2.4 million, multi-year project, to investigate the potential of stem cell therapies to repair parts of the eye; and Dr. Catherine Tsilfidis is developing gene therapies to help prevent retinal cell death, as part of a $1.4 million, multi-year study. Both projects are funded, in part, by the Foundation Fighting Blindness with money raised by Cycle for Sight.
Since Cycle for Sight's inception, the one-day cycling event has raised over $600,000 in support the Foundation Fighting Blindness and sight-saving research.
Cycle for Sight, presented by Novartis, takes place in Ottawa on Sunday, June 3, and in Toronto on Saturday, June 23, 2012. Come be a part of Cycle for Sight! Build a team and support vision research by registering today. For more information, visit http://www.cycleforsight.ca/ottawa.html or call 1.800.461.3331.
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