Tom McClellan, 19, was set to go on a transcontinental bike ride and in search of a worthy cause to dedicate it to. When his father Tony, a board member for a public service program of the Foundation of the American Academy of Ophthalmology called EyeCare America, approached the organization with his son’s request a partnership was born. McClellan, of Gloucestershire, South West England, and five other cyclists comprising the EyeRide for Sight cycling team, will ride approximately 3,000 miles across the United States over a two-month period to raise awareness about eye disease and EyeCare America’s services. They will be finishing up in July in Washington, D.C. at the offices of the American Academy of Ophthalmology in July.

“We are excited to work with EyeCare America in order to help raise awareness about eye disease and preventable blindness,” says McClellan. “We hope that our bike ride across the United States will allow EyeCare America to help even more people save their sight.” EyeCare America provides free medical eyecare to those in need. For more information on the organization and on EyeRide, visit their web site at www.eyecareamerica.org.  
 —Melissa Arkin