THE ANNUAL Dundee Cyclathon, taking place this weekend, will for the first time feature a cyclist who is registered blind.

Organised by Claverhouse Rotary Club, the event starts at 10.30am tomorrow with entrants donating the funds to Marie Curie or a charitable cause of their choice.

Around 400 people of all ages and abilities will pedal around 26 miles of Dundee’s Green Circular Route.

But event organiser Harrison Watson and cyclist Janet Brereton, who is registered blind, struggled to secure the use of a tandem bicycle.

Although Ms Brereton has participated in tandem cycling events in the past, she does not own a tandem and they can be expensive.

“I find tandem cycling an excellent way of keeping healthy while giving me the opportunity to meet new and interesting people,” Ms Brereton said.

“It’s also a great way for visually-impaired cyclists to participate in outdoor sporting events, but there are so many obstacles involved that can make it inaccessible.

“A good tandem can cost around £450 to buy. There are places you hire them from but they are few and far between, can vary greatly in price and some require deposits of £100.”

Ms Brereton said the cost was just one of the problems visually-impaired cyclists have to overcome as collection, storage and finding a lead rider are also major factors.

In the quest to obtain a tandem for tomorrow’s event, which starts and finishes in Camperdown Country Park, Mr Watson, of Claverhouse Rotary Club, tried numerous Dundee cycle shops.

“It was very difficult to obtain. We tried cycle shops in Dundee and the surrounding areas, sports centres and even Scout groups,” Mr Watson said.

“A bike shop in St Andrews would have done it for £20 with a £100 deposit and we would have paid that if necessary for Janet to participate.

“It’s wonderful to be able to allow a visually-impaired cyclist the freedom and access to enjoy this event.

“We are hoping to progress this idea in the future and we hope to see more disabled cyclists participate in future.”

As it turned out, Lochore Meadows Country Park in Fife, which Ms Brereton has helped raise funds for in the past, came to the rescue and offered the use of a tandem.

“I didn’t know if they would lend one to me for the event but they’ve been great letting us have it from Saturday until Monday,” Ms Brereton said.

“Harrison is collecting and returning the tandem for me and deserves so much praise—not everyone would go to those lengths to ensure I could participate.”

Working for the Healthy Living and Sensory Awareness Project in Fife, Ms Brereton has first-hand experience of the many barriers facing people who are blind, partially-sighted or deaf.

She said small changes can make all the difference and is trying to set up a tandem cycling group.

“Around 96% of people who are registered blind still have partial sight and can see something,” she added.

“Tandem cycling is just one way people can get involved.”

All she raises at the cyclathon will be donated to the Forth and Tay Disabled Ramblers, which aims to promote the health and wellbeing of people with disabilities through recreation and social activities

Pupils of Menzieshill High School in Dundee will be taking part in the cyclathon ahead of their trip to Africa next year.

Team Uganda is to head to the country as part of a project aimed at raising awareness of issues affecting developing countries.

The team is among four school teams taking part in the event, which will hold its first Dundee Cyclathon Cup for Schools this year.

The trip to Africa will see 12 fourth-years at Menzieshill High building a relationship with communities in the Gabba township near Kampala.

They will spend three weeks at a school there in October next year.

The Cyclathon is part of a series of team-building and fund-raising exercises, which also includes preparing presentations for the school in Uganda.