Tour de France challenge for Fight for Sight researcher

On Sunday 18 July, Dr Forbes Manson, a Fight for Sight-funded researcher based at the University of Manchester, took on part of the famous Tour de France route in aid of Fight for Sight.

Dr Manson's research is looking at the causes of Primary Open Angle Glaucoma (POAG), one of the most common causes of the condition. He hopes his research will enable earlier detection and treatment of POAG to prevent permanent sight loss.

A keen cyclist, he decided to combine his professional and sporting passions and take on this cycling challenge to support Fight for Sight's research programme.

Fight for Sight, the UK's leading eye research charity, funds world-class research into the prevention and treatment of blindness and disease.

Dr Manson said of his challenge: "I have been training all year and was so pleased when the big day came around. I knew it was going to be a long and hot day in the saddle, finishing on the biggest climb in the Pyrenees but am delighted my efforts will help raise funds for Fight for Sight who play such a vital role in funding eye research in the UK."

To support Forbes’ fundraising go to: http://www.justgiving.com/Forbes-Manson

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For more information
call Louise Elliott at Fight for Sight on 020 7929 7755
or visit our website: www.fightforsight.org.uk

Notes for Editor:
Fight for Sight is the UK’s leading charity dedicated to funding world-class research into the prevention and treatment of blindness and eye disease.

Since 1965, the charity has funded research at leading universities and hospitals throughout the UK. Our major achievements in this time include:
• saving the sight of thousands of  premature babies through understanding and controlling levels of oxygen delivery;
• restoring sight by establishing the UK Corneal Transplant Service enabling over 48,000 corneal transplants to take place;
• revolutionising the treatment for children with amblyopia (lazy eye);
• bringing hope to children with inherited eye disease by helping fund the team responsible for the world’s first gene therapy clinical trial; and
• providing £1million for the research unit at the dedicated children’s eye centre at Moorfields Eye Hospital.

Fight for Sight’s current research programme is focusing on preventing and treating age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma and cataract. We are also funding research into the causes of childhood blindness and a large number of rare eye diseases.