BLIND NORFOLK MAN TO TAKE ON TOUR DE BROADS CYCLE EVENT TO RAISE MONEY FOR SIGHT LOSS CHARITY

One rider tackling this year’s Tour de Broads cycle event will be facing a particular challenge – he is completely blind.

Mark Smith will be taking on the event for the second year running, riding a tandem with sighted rider Tom Page, with the pair aiming to raise money for Norfolk’s sight loss charity, the Norfolk & Norwich association for the Blind.

As well as the physical challenge of completing the ride on Sunday 18^th August, the duo are having to learn to communicate much more closely than a sighted tandem pair might have to, with Mr Page constantly having to describe the route, giving warnings of hills, corners, the need to transfer weight, and gear changes.

Mr Page, who has volunteered with the NNAB since 2012, is a keen cyclist, and partnered Mr Smith in the event in 2018.

The 2018 Tour de Broads takes place over the weekend of 17^th and 18^th August, with the main rides departing from Whitlingham Country Park on Sunday 18^th.  More details are available at www.tourdebroads.com.

Anyone wishing to sponsor the pair can do so by visiting https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/MarkSmith213.