A blind cyclist is taking part in a 200-mile ride to raise money for groups that have helped him live life to the full despite his disability.
Mr Keith Lauder, who will cycle from Newcastle to Edinburgh. 230211JT3-8Mr Keith Lauder, 47, of Collingham, lost his sight when he was 22 in a motorbike accident that left him in a coma, but has since completed various challenges, including a 500-mile cycle ride from St Petersburg to Moscow in Russia and a coast-to-coast ride from Whitehaven to Sunderland.
He has also been white-water rafting, ostrich riding and parachuting.
He is planning to complete a 200-mile coast-to-castle cycle ride from Newcastle to Edinburgh on a tandem to raise money for the Balderton Resource Centre, Newark Lions Club and the charity for people with brain injuries, Headway.
Mr Lauder attends the PHAB (Physically Handicapped and Able-bodied) club at Balderton Resource Centre every Monday, Wednesday and Friday and is a former president of Newark Lions.
He said he was fully confident of completing the challenge, which will take seven days.
"When we did the Whitehaven ride we had to ride up a bit of a hill, which turned out to go up to 1,500m above sea level. We did that without getting off once, and cycled all the way to the top," he said.
"I go to the Grove Leisure Centre to train and they make sure I am doing the right exercises to strengthen my leg muscles, so I am confident I am well prepared. I am looking forward to it."
The challenge is organised by Vitalise, which provides trips for visually-impaired people. Mr Lauder will find out who his tandem partner is when he arrives at the starting point in Edinburgh.
"They select somebody who is well matched to you in terms of size and weight," he said.
He said he did not have a financial target in mind, but just wanted to raise as much money as he could to be split equally between the three groups.
The ride is from April 7 to 14. To sponsor Mr Lauder contact Headway via its website
www.headway.org.uk
