Vision Express team completes charity ride

A team of 30 cyclists have completed a 300km challenge to raise funds and awareness for the Childhood Eye Cancer Trust (CHECT).

Organised by Vision Express, the Ride4sight challenge has raised more than £27,000 for CHECT, the multiple’s charity of choice. 

Vision Express has supported the CHECT for the past five years and through various initiatives has raised half a million pound for the charity to date.

This year’s challenge was designed to mark Vision Express’ 30th anniversary and cyclists included the multiple’s CEO, Jonathan Lawson, CHECT chairman and general manager of PepsiCo UK, Ian Ellington, Olympian Bryan Steel and Paralympian Darren Harris.

Mr Ellington highlighted: “Because CHECT is such a tiny charity, the support from the Ride4Sight is a lifeline. My son Tom was diagnosed with retinoblastoma 10 years ago and as a parent, hearing your child has cancer is possibly the worst thing you can imagine. It was an incredibly difficult and disorientating experience. Even now, years later, I find it hard to talk about.”

The route started and finished at Vision Express’ Nottingham headquarters, while they stopped at branches in Hanley, Crewe, Macclesfield and Matlock en route.

They also stopped at the multiple’s Vision Express at Tesco practice in Toton where they were greeted by CHECT ambassador Lewis Tideswell, as well as the store’s team.

Reflecting on his forth Ride4sight challenge, Mr Lawson said: “It doesn’t get any easier. However, I’ve been honoured to meet some truly inspirational individuals, and that spurs you on. Having eye cancer survivors, like Lewis, join us along the route brings home exactly why we’re doing this.”