MADISON, Wis. (WMTV) -Cycle for Sight 2026 is underway following a kickoff event at Princeton Club West in Madison. The campaign asks participants to complete one hour of exercise this month to support eye disease research in Wisconsin.
The event benefits the McPherson Eye Research Institute and has raised more than $650,000 since 2012 for diseases including macular degeneration, glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy.
Honoring loved ones
Brett Valentyn said he is cycling in honor of his sister Kenzi, who died nine years ago after suffering from Kearns-Sayre syndrome, a disease that took her eyesight.
“She was always so unselfish and despite all the things she was dealing with really thinking about others and helping,” Valentyn said. “We miss her a lot — that’s just really indicative of her spirit and thinking about others and that’s something we have tried to carry forward.”
Community support for research
Michael Chaim with the McPherson Eye Research Institute said the research being done and the support from the community is meaningful to families affected by vision loss…