Two vision impaired Great Yarmouth people have raised over £2,500 between them for Norfolk’s sight loss charity – part of a year-long fundraising challenge being run by the charity to celebrate its 220th birthday.
Cycling enthusiast Miranda Reeves, who lost a significant portion of her sight two years ago, took to the saddle of her tandem with husband Robert and rode 50 miles around the town, raising £1,710 in the process for Vision Norfolk.
And Ed Bates, who manages the charity’s Great Yarmouth hub and is renowned for being ‘chatty’, managed to stay silent for a full 12 hours, raising £865 for the charity in the process.
The pair were both taking part in Vision Norfolk’s 220 Challenge, which aims to raise £220,000 during its anniversary year to help support vision impaired people throughout the county.
Mrs Reeves lost 80% of the sight in her left eye and 50% in her right eye through optic neuropathy in December 2023. Prior to this she was a keen cycling enthusiast.
The tandem pair visited a whole host of places on their ride, including Bradwell, Burgh Castle, Belton, Gorleston, Caister, Ormesby St Margaret, California, Scratby, Hemsby, Hopton, Corton and Lowestoft.
Their initial fundraising target of £220 was comprehensively smashed, thanks to the generosity of friends and family, their Avon customers, and the Great Yarmouth Lions Club, which donated £500 after reading about their challenge in the Great Yarmouth Mercury.
Meanwhile Mr Bates, who was born completely blind, managed the 12 hour silence, despite colleagues persistently ringing him during the day – and he even completed a silent workout at the gym with his personal trainer.
“We are very grateful both to Miranda and Robert, and to Ed, and all of the generous people who supported their fundraising efforts in and around Great Yarmouth,” said Vision Norfolk fundraising manager Joe Russell.
“We have set ourselves an ambitious fundraising target during our anniversary year, and we would love to hear from anyone who would like to take up the challenge and help us support people living with sight loss to live independent and fulfilled lives.”
