Story from the Evening Express
A deaf man who is about to go completely blind will use the last of his sight for a mammoth journey for charity.
Bob Nolan, 50, and his wife Louise, 44, will cycle 1,000 miles on a tandem from Land’s End to John O Groats this summer – with Louise, who is profoundly deaf, steering the way.
Their aim is to raise funds for Deafblind Scotland, and for Bob, who has been gradually going blind since he was 25, to experience one last adventure with the little sight he has left.
The couple moved to Bieldside in 1991 from Manchester and have three children together, daughters Mamyfanwy, 19, Rebecca, 17, and son Joshua, 13.
Bob works as a global project manager for oil company, Shell, and is the chairman of the Deafblind Scotland charity while Louise works part time as a deaf awareness trainer.
Bob said: “I’m not complaining about going blind. When I was 26 they told me I only had five years of sight left and I have just turned 50 so in many ways I’m grateful. I try to think of what I’ve had and not what I’ve lost.”
The couple won’t be alone on their trip, with friends cycling with the couple to provide support and encouragement.
And Bob has been contacted by cycling groups from Glasgow and Kilmarnock who asked to join in along the way.
Bob has taken part in several events for the charity and even ran marathons with the help of a guide.
But the determined fundraiser said something special was required to really rake in the funds.
He said: “I want to raise serious money so I had to do something seriously challenging.”
Contributions can be made by visiting Bob’s Justgiving page at www.justgiving.com/bobstandemride.
