David celebrates his 80th birthday by cycling 80km to raise vital funds for charity

With pilot Mark and friends, David will ride from Lisburn to Oxford Island and back on August 29, 2026 and he is hoping as many people as possible will support his fundraising effort.

David’s grandson Micah was born totally blind due to Norrie Disease, a rare genetic condition that also causes autism, developmental delay, learning difficulties and epilepsy.

“My grandson Micah, who is 14 years old, was born totally blind, due to an extremely rare genetic condition called Norrie Disease,” explained David.

“As well as being blind, Micah faces many other challenges caused by the condition.

"He is autistic, has global developmental delay, learning difficulties, and epilepsy. But by far the scariest thing is that he will almost certainly begin to lose his hearing as well, and that could start at any time.

“Despite all the challenges and barriers he faces every day, he is one of the happiest children I know and he takes great joy in listening to sounds like birds, sirens and lawnmowers, as well as having a passion for music and playing the keyboard.

"Sound is his world. If he loses his hearing all that joy will be taken from him and he faces the prospect of slipping into a world of silent darkness. This is the terrifying reality for children with Norrie Disease.

“We desperately need to raise money for the Norrie Disease Foundation, and help to fund critical research into a treatment for the devastating hearing loss that affects people with Norrie Disease, like my grandson Micah, who are already blind.

“The Norrie Disease Foundation and Great Ormond Street Hospital Institute of Child Health are carrying out research into the specific hearing loss in Norrie Disease, in order to try and find a treatment. However, funding for these types of very rare diseases is incredibly hard to get. That is why we need your support.

“Any donations, no matter how small, will make a difference to the Norrie community and bring us a step closer to preventing the devastating hearing loss. Even if you are not able to donate, please share Micah’s story so we can reach more people."

Donations can be made on David’s fundraising page at https://www.justgiving.com/team/80for80.

David is also a founder of Lisburn Outlook, which combats isolation among blind and partially sighted people through tandem cycling, theatre trips, classes, training and an annual holiday.

“An essential part of our ethos is that blind and partially sighted people themselves are closely involved in running the organisation,£ David continued.

"Our activities include not only tandem riding but also less strenuous activities such as theatre visits and trips to places of interest.

"In the past year we have supported pottery classes and life-saving and defibrillator training for our blind and partially sighted members, as well as a ‘have a go’ water sports afternoon.

"We rely entirely on grants and donations, and would greatly appreciate any gift you feel able to make,” David added.