With more than 500 participants — and twice the amount of funds raised online than originally anticipated — Lighthouse International’s first-ever Double Up 4 Vision tandem bike ride and walk to fight vision loss far surpassed our expectations.
Two for the Road
We kicked off the event on October 22 at Lighthouse International on East 59th Street in Manhattan with an unprecedented 24-hour city-wide tandem bike relay. Six teams — each with a sighted pilot in front and a stoker who is visually impaired in back — rode in shifts through the five boroughs.
As members of the press gathered, we sent the first team off with cheers and fanfare, and followed all the riders through the day and night as they crisscrossed Manhattan, Staten Island, Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx. 125 miles … 12 riders … 24 hours!
With both riders contributing equal energy to power the tandem bikes, they embodied our theme of doubling up. Coming together to raise awareness of vision loss, they brought to life the message that there should be no limits for people who are visually impaired.
Each participant had an inspiring reason to ride … for themselves, or for a family member or friend who is visually impaired. We applaud them for their amazing commitment, and thank them for taking this journey on our behalf: pilot Jaime and her sister, stoker Caitlin Sarubbi; pilot Caroline Kazcor and stoker Rebecca Alexander; pilot Mark Lucas and stoker Clark Rachfal; pilot Adam Lichtenstein and stoker Suleiman Rifai; pilot Stephen Pearlman and stoker Peter Slatin; and pilot Mark Carhart and stoker Artie Elefant.
Our partners at the New York City Fire Department kindly welcomed the relay riders at transition points, where one team ended and another started their segment. The five-borough ride was witnessed by countless New Yorkers in person, and through social media as well as TV outlets such as CBS, WNBC and WABC. The event was also featured in The Daily News and The New York Times online.
The More the Merrier!
Double Up 4 Vision continued on October 23 with the final tandem bike relay team finishing their relay leg at 125th Street in West Harlem Piers Park. This was a dramatic moment, as we welcomed them with cheers and hearty congratulations from the large crowd waiting to begin their 5K tandem bike ride and walk. As we sent hundreds off on the Hudson River path, we were all treated to a wonderful FDNY fireboat water display. Finishing up at Pier i at 70th Street, participants enjoyed a Family Fun Festival, complete with storytelling and face painting for kids, live music from our Music School children’s percussion and jazz ensembles, exhibits and more.
Thank You to All Who Supported Us!
Double Up 4 Vision was made possible by the extraordinary efforts of 150 dedicated volunteers, including the all-essential tandem bike procurement team, our generous sponsors, bike companies that invested in our success, Lighthouse staff behind the scenes and, of course, our participants. Together, we raised more than $150,000 online for Lighthouse services, doubling our goal.
Read more about Double Up 4 Vision, watch video and look at photographs from the event.
