Kevin's Tour Aotearoa - biking the length of New Zealand for Katikati Children with Irlens

Kevin Evans of Athenree is gearing up to cycle the length of New Zealand beginning February 28th from Cape Reinga.

More than 600 people will join the organised event, known as Tour Aotearoa, following 3000 km of cycle trails, tracks, paths and lanes, with just 30 days to reach Bluff.

Training for the past six months has come some way to preparing Kevin for the physical and emotional roller coaster of cycling over 100km a day for up to one month.

While completing the ride will be a massive personal accomplishment, he has also chosen to use the event to support a local Katikati group who offer eye screening at Katikati Primary school for Irlen Syndrome.

Irlens is a specific type of perceptual problem that affects the way the brain processes visual information. If picked up in children before puberty, with treatment, it can correct itself.

For people with Irlen Syndrome, the brain is unable to process full spectral light. For some children this means they cannot see anything black or white, or while trying to read, words keep "wriggling off the page".

Irlen Syndrome is common, with 12 percent of the population showing symptoms, and can run in families, so parents often don’t notice when their children have the same symptoms.

Any funds raised will go directly to funding screening for all year 3 students at Katikati Primary School and to support families with some follow up costs. An overlay coloured sheet costs just $7 and can make a real difference.

For more information on Irlen Screeners in your area, contact Irlens Head Office 09 576 5390 or website www.irlen.com

Kevin’s progress can be tracked at touraotearoa2018.maprogress.com/.