Our John's cycle for Community Rescue Team

By Helen EvansJOHN Nicholl, a 38-year-old deaf man with rapidly deteriorating eyesight, did a charity tandem bicycle ride on 22nd August for the Community Rescue Team.

A former pupil of Ballymoney Model Primary School and Ballymoney High School, John was born deaf and began losing his eyesight six years ago. This forced him to stop working as a hairdresser.

He began cycling with Peter Scott from The Blind Centre in Coleraine on a tandem bicycle every week to incorporate it into his exercise routine.

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Peter asked him if he wanted to participate in the shorter length of the charity race and big hearted John, who communicates with a special sign language, jumped at the opportunity.

John's mother Joyce Nicholl said: "John loves cycling and he enjoyed the entire experience. Because his participation was a last minute decision, he could not fundraise but his friends and family donated 90 to the Community Rescue Team.

"John loves exercising and fresh air. In spite of his disabilities, he is a very sociable, easygoing man with an infectious laugh.

"It's so important for John to have these opportunities because he can't see or hear. It would be a very dark, silent world if he didn't get out of the house."

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John's popularity in the area was evident back in 2008 when we was nominated to switch on the Christmas lights in Ballymoney.

The Times was inundated with nominations from the public in order to select one lucky individual to perform the illustrious task.

One person wrote that "although born deaf and now losing his sight, he's never complained and this could be his last year to see the lights."

Another penned that John was "always very cheerful with a positive outlook on life."

One entry praised John for never adopting a "why me attitude" despite his health problems.

The Seacon man has without doubt been an inspiration to all those who are fortunate to know him.