Dear Friends and Family,

At the end of this month I will join my friend Jim Freiss and others in my first multi-day bike endurance event.  This event has been organized by Jim, in part, to bring attention and support to The Seeing Eye, Inc., a guide dog foundation in Northern New Jersey. In the past few years, this organization has gotten my family’s annual support because of Jim’s previous biking and running challenges where we have donated money to the cause and we cheered Jim on!  This year, my family is jumping in to take a more active role in supporting The Seeing Eye by adding another ‘voice’ to Jim’s efforts!

Why is Jim focused on The Seeing Eye, Inc.?

Jim’s motivation for helping The Seeing Eye has been centered around what The Seeing Eye was able to do in support of Jim’s late brother John.  Jim's brother was sight-impaired and this awesome group outfitted John with a service dog, Hero. Hero  made John’s life more productive and easier from a mobility perspective.  Jim’s devotion to fundraising, has yielded over $50,000 so far in donations to The Seeing Eye, Inc. in the last three years!

Why are the McCoy’s jumping in to play a more active role in supporting The Seeing Eye, Inc.?

As many of you know, my husband Patrick lives with Parkinson’s Disease --a progressive neurological disease which cause  uncontrollable body movements, difficulty with coordination, rigidity in his muscles, and more recently significant anxiety, depression, and early dementia.  Jim suggested possibly a dog as a companion … he made a few phone calls, had our name placed on a list with The Seeing Eye for a “change of career” guide dog and blessedly on June 22 we adopted Hunter, a golden retriever.  Hunter is already an invaluable gift – providing Patrick with mobility, socialization, friendship and so much more.  We are currently working with a
trainer to train Hunter as a mobility dog – he will be able to brace and help Patrick get up should he fall, retrieve items for him and so much more. 

The upcoming Challenge and a Request from friends

This year, the challenge will be a 400 mile multi-state trail bike ride from Washington DC to Pittsburgh, PA all by canal and rail trail. It will be a beautiful ride with long days in the saddle for a really great cause!  I will pedal the 400 miles while Patrick, Hunter, and my friend Debbie will join the ride by following us in the car and providing support along the way. 

Please consider supporting us in this effort whether with your prayers, your encouragement, and/or a monetary donation.  The Seeing Eye, Inc. has given so many guide dogs the gift of mobility and now we join
that family in our adoption of Hunter.

I hope you can find it in your budget and your heart to help me in my effort to help others with sight impairment.

With gratitude and love to you and your families,

Barbara & Patrick McCoy