Optometry Giving Sight

Three dedicated students from Bradford University raised over £2,800 for the World Sight Day Student Challenge. Optometry students Jessica MacIsaac, Fares Hatoum and Abubakr Patel cycled 750 miles over ten days to raise funds for Optometry Giving Sight and Vision Aid Overseas.

The students masterminded the entire challenge, which saw them cycling between all seven mainland UK optometry universities, starting at Glasgow Caledonian University on September 14 before making stops at Bradford, Manchester, Aston, Anglia and City, finishing at Cardiff University optometry department.

The trio faced treacherous terrain, unforgiving weather and aching muscles through the journey, as well as a grueling ride through the Pennines between Bradford and Manchester. In Northampton, they were given a warm welcome by optometrist Brian Tompkins of Tompkins Knight & Son, who provided them with accommodation for the night and ‘enough body fuel, granola bars and Jelly Babies to last for the duration of the ride.’ They were joined by Bradford University lecturers Dr. Keeble from Yorkshire to Bradford, and Dr. Mallen who cycled alongside the students from Cambridge to the finish line in Cardiff.

Not content to stop there, on Wednesday October 12 they began a 24 hour cycle ride, which saw them pedaling through the day and night until 1pm on October 13, World Sight Day. With two bikes running all the time, they and other Bradford students managed to clock up 1,000 miles between both the bikes.

Abubakr said that both rides were very tough on the team. “At times we went through so much pain, but we remembered the famous words of Lance Armstrong, ‘Pain is temporary, quitting lasts forever’,” he said.

“We stayed calm and positive and this gave us contentment and kept us going throughout the ride. We really enjoyed the whole process of organising and taking part in the Student Challenge cycle events - as we're unable to go away and work on a project, knowing that the money raised will directly impact the lives of many people is an amazing accomplishment and we would certainly do it again!" he added.

Photo: (back row) - Students Jessica MacIsaac, Fares Hatoum, Abu Patel and Ed Mallen, Reader of Optometry at Bradford, (front row) - Lucy Jenkins, Communications Manager of Vision Aid Overseas and Donna Power, Country Manager of Optometry Giving Sight.