U.S. Transcontinental Bike Ride to Raise Awareness about Eye Disease and Free Eye Exams and Raise Funds for Blindness Prevention Programs.

San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) May 7, 2008 -- EyeCare America, a public service program of the Foundation of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, today announced that six cyclists will embark on a transcontinental bike ride in order to educate the public about eye disease, encourage the public to utilize EyeCare America’s free eye care programs and raise funds to support the organization’s efforts to save sight. A $25 donation will allow EyeCare America to provide free medical eye care to someone in need within the U.S. To make a donation to EyeRide for Sight, log on to www.eyecareamerica.org and click on the “EyeRide for Sight” logo.


The California-based organization recently received a letter of support for the bike ride from the Office of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, which will begin at EyeCare America’s headquarters in San Francisco on May 7, 2008 and finish at the American Academy of Ophthalmology’s Washington, D.C. office in late July. The ride is also supported and endorsed by the California Academy of Eye Physicians and Surgeons.

"EyeCare America is one of the largest public service programs in the U.S. to offer access to medical eye care at no cost. Our mission is to put an end to preventable blindness. As such, we are always looking for new ways to tell people about our programs and connect those at risk of eye disease with our services," said Richard P. Mills, MD, ophthalmologist and Chair of EyeCare America. "When our board member, Tony McClellan, approached us to let us know that his son was looking for a worthy cause to support during his scheduled transcontinental bike ride, we thought that it would be a great partnership. Through the EyeRide for Sight, we hope to get the message out to medically underserved communities that EyeCare America can help save their sight."

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