Pete Ross and Lee Goosey are participating in the Prudential Ride London Event, to raise much needed funds to pay for Eye Health Education Presentations at primary schools throughout Hampshire for OpenSight.
They are aiming to raise £6,000 to fund the Eye Health Education scheme, run by OpenSight Hampshire, which helps schools identify children who could need treatment for sight conditions as well as educating children about sight loss. The scheme informs children about the importance of protecting eyes from the sun, having regular eye tests, eating vegetables and exercising regularly as well as the detrimental effects of smoking.
Pete says: “Both myself and Lee wear glasses so we understand the importance of having regular eye tests and check-ups. Knowing that around one in four children start school with an undetected sight condition, which may be detrimental to their ability to learn is a scary thought!”
The money they raise will help fund the delivery of the scheme to more than 12,000 children and their families at 48 schools across Hampshire.
Lee says:
Below is a real-life story that OpenSight Hampshire shared with us which has been our inspiration to participate in the cycle challenge:
For one little girl a talk at her school was life changing, as her mother Sarah Spurr recalls;
“In 2015 OpenSight Hampshire visited my daughter’s school, Kings Copse Primary School. I work as a teaching assistant and was in class when you were talking to the children about how to keep our eyes healthy. One of the points discussed was the importance of regular eye sight tests. I made an appointment for myself and my daughters to have our eyes tested. The optician diagnosed my daughter, aged 5, with very poor sight in one of her eyes and referred her to the eye hospital for further tests. If it hadn’t been for your visit I wouldn’t have thought to take all of for a test, so thank you. I am pleased to say that at our last appointment at the eye hospital her sight is improving, and both eyes are now working together.
Incidentally our story, told at the school gates, has encouraged several others to go to the opticians. I can think of at least two other children that are also now wearing glasses!”
