Blind triathlete and motivational speaker Charlie Plaskon is set to be a guest rider at Bike for Bridge, a charity event for The Bridge Academy.
Bike for Bridge is scheduled for 7 a.m. May 4 at Rosedale Park in Hopewell.
Plaskon was born with Stargardt macular degeneration and has been blind his whole life. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Newark State College and two master’s degrees; one from The University of Maryland at College Park and another at Hofstra University in Long Island.
After 32 years of teaching at Copiague Middle school in New York, Plaskon retired to Florida where he began running. He ran half marathons working his way up to full marathons and then triathlons, which include swimming and biking.
In 2003, Plaskon started competing in Ironman events, including the World Championship in Kona, Hawaii in October 2007.
The athlete is set to share his message with the students of the Bridge Academy, who, like Plaskon, overcome daily obstacles.
The Bridge Academy is is a state-approved, independent school for students with language-based disabilities, like dyslexia.
The Bike for Bridge cycling event features three cycling routes; 100 miles, 66 miles and 34 miles – and a one mile Fun Ride.
Registration for the three routes is $50 in advance and $60 the day of the event. Registration for the Fun Ride is $20 in advance and $25 the day of the event.
More information is online at bikereg.com/Net/19276.
