Hello, my
name is Jenny. I was born with retinoblastoma and have been blind since six months of age. The thrill
of being on a bicycle has brought me so much joy and fulfillment beyond what
words can express. I am so grateful for this club, its volunteers, and the
amazing captains who generously give of their time and energy to bring the simple
thrill of riding a bicycle to the blind and visually impaired, and it’s
generous individuals like you that make this possible for people like me!
- Jenny Whitton –
I lost
the eyesight in my left eye in 2016, when the retina in my left eye detached from
being extremely near sighted. The retina was successfully reattached, but too
much time had passed. As a result, I can perceive light, but not too much else.
Cycling
has been my exercise passion for the past 43 years! Being blind in my left eye makes it very
dangerous as I cannot see well enough to confidently change lanes to make left
turns. I was really depressed after I lost my sight until I found out about The
San Diego Blind Stokers Club.
- Diana Ross -
In 2012 I
retired my single bicycle. After a concussion
resulting from a fall off my bicycle it was time to find another way to
bicycle. With my bad central vision things come up on me too quickly when
riding. After an internet search I discovered the Blind Stokers Club here in
San Diego. Now with my partner and pilot Kevin Knapp I can still ride all over
the place and not worry about seeing the road ahead. I can pedal on the back of
the tandem and enjoy bike riding again.
- Gary Deeter
-
I want to
thank all the generous individuals who have donated their time and money to
support the Blind Stokers Club. I am truly blessed to be able to have the
opportunity to enjoy the great sport of cycling and ride along side so many incredible people. Thank you again
to the BSC for giving me the gift of overcoming my disabilities and pushing
myself to the limit. I always feel so supported and encouraged when riding with
this club and look forward to many more events in the future. Until next time,
I am confident that the best is yet to come!
- Drew –
“The BSC
has been a fantastic experience for me since 2014. I have ridden with fourteen BVI stokers and
have enjoyed listening to their wide variety of stories while we enjoy the
exhilarating sport of cycling. I feel so
good being a person who helps a cyclist do what he or she would be unable to do
on his or her own. (The students I
substitute teach think I am a cool guy for riding with the BVI population.)
Cycling
for Sight is an awesome retreat that allows all of us BSC members to share our
various talents and experiences. The
weekend never gets old, and so much of the money raised goes directly to help
the BVI population adapt to life with limited or no vision.”
- Paul Dickstein -
“Invitation
from co-founder Andy Weitzel (along with Jonathan Hebert) to the inaugural
Cycling for Sight (CFS) tour in 2005 inspired me to pair up 15 tandem teams
with sight-impaired stokers to meet the tour and ride the final few miles of
the 225 mile journey.
That demonstration of sighted+blind cycling
partnerships on tandem bikes led directly to the founding and naming of the
Blind Stokers Club (BSC), with simple mission to share the sport of cycling
with those unable to see well enough to pilot a bike. The BSC has grown from that seed of CFS - and
become a dynamic community of members and followers who use the energy of
teamwork and power of partnerships to enable healthy sporting lifestyles while
creating lasting friendships.”
- Dave White, BSC founder and director -
“The
Blind Stokers Club allows me to give back to the community by doing what I
love, riding a bicycle. Their annual CFS fundraiser, benefiting the San Diego
Center for the Blind, is one of the best organized cycling events that combines
fundraising, teamwork, friendship along with the joy and
freedom of bicycling/tandeming.”
- Patrick Nelissen -