In the Bronx, a visually impaired gentleman is stepping outside his comfort zone as he prepares to join the TD Five Boro Bike Tour. His aim is to increase awareness and gather funding for initiatives supporting individuals who have lost their sight.
For the first time in about three decades, Terrell Dobbins said he is hopping back on a bicycle.
"I was uncertain about my feelings towards it initially. However, once I sat on the bicycle for the first time and adjusted to the handlebars and pedals, I became more at ease," Dobbins stated.
Dobbins shared he became visually impaired after being diagnosed with diabetes. He said he received the diagnosis when he was 19 years old, and started to lose his vision nearly 10 years later.
Through the Lighthouse Guild, an organization dedicated to assisting people of all ages who are blind or have visual impairments, Dobbins is receiving training to become part of this supportive community. TD Five Boro Bike Tour next month.
"To sense the seat beneath you and really understand, it’s sort of a commitment, a matter of trust, between you and your pilot," Dobbins stated.
Dobbins will train on Saturdays to get accustomed to riding a tandem bicycle with a companion. Additionally, he will use a tandem bike during the tour.
The Lighthouse Guild assists individuals who have trouble seeing.
The Lighthouse Guild It also introduces Dobbins and others who have visual impairments to sports such as archery, cycling, and beep baseball.
Participating in the TD Five Boro Bike Tour will assist the organization in raising funds to keep these sports programs and additional services running.
Lighthouse Guild boasts a charitable squad called Team See No Limits, through which they aim to gather resources benefiting not only Lighthouse Guild but also an anticipated future foundation. In the previous year, their group comprised 33 participants including fully-sighted bikers along with those with limited eyesight and blind cyclists, all believing that anything can be achieved with adequate backing,” explained Kiana Glanton, who oversees development and special projects for Lighthouse Guild.
Although he gets to join the tour and engage in various sports activities, Dobbins aims for his tale of resolve and steadfastness to motivate others.
He mentioned that it feels incredibly empowering. It provides him with the opportunity to reintegrate into society in ways he believed were impossible before. When his vision began declining, activities such as cycling and playing baseball seemed out of reach, making him feel excluded from an active lifestyle.
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