(PRESS RELEASE) HAUPPAUGE, NY – ClearVision Optical, in partnership with Aspire Eyewear and Revo, announces the sponsorship of Miles of Portraits: India.
Miles of Portraits is an aspirational magazine and film designed and developed by Erik Douds and Annalisa van den Bergh that highlights the journey of two cyclists as they pedal 700 miles across southwest India over a four-week period. While this journey is tough for seasoned cyclists, the pair have an added challenge, as they are both type 1 diabetics.
However, this isn’t the duo’s first ride together. In fact, they have cycled over 20,000 miles on their bikes in support of a mission to raise awareness for what they describe as an “invisible disease” and the notion that despite a T1D diagnosis, anything is possible including riding the TransAmerica trail from Virginia to Seattle. More recently, Erik and Annalisa have completed a 1,000-mile loop around Alaska in addition to a Southwestern U.S. tour.
Riding while constantly monitoring their glucose levels, often in remote and isolated areas of the country, the cycling pair is looking to complete their next ride in South India, kicking off on Jan. 6.
The route covers approximately 700 miles over four weeks and will begin in Kochi then venture into the tropical, lush hills of Kerala and finally along the southwestern coast of India.
Throughout the trip, Erik and Annalisa will be capturing photos and video footage of the people they meet along the way, and will compile that footage into a magazine and film upon returning to the U.S. Miles of Portraits showcases all of the ways the bicycle brings people together. Erik and Annalisa’s story has appeared on the cover of Adventure Cyclist Magazine, Outside Magazine, The Washington Post, and the REI Co-op Journal.
In order to aid in their efforts, ClearVision Optical, in tandem with Aspire Eyewear and Revo, has teamed up to sponsor Miles of Portraits: India.
As health ambassadors, specifically for type 1 diabetics, both Erik and Annalisa recognize and routinely speak to the importance of routine eye exams and vision health for the diabetic community.
As a global traveler and endurance athlete, Erik Douds has served as an Aspire Eyewear ambassador benefitting from the brand’s thin and lightweight yet durable construction. Both Annalisa and Erik have also worked with Revo in the past and benefitted from the brand’s performance sunwear features during their biking trips, which reduces sun glare and eye fatigue.
“In the past few years, Erik and I have found pure happiness in the liberation that is riding a bicycle, and more importantly, we’ve had the chance to bring home the message that representation matters,” stated Annalisa van den Bergh. “Our aim is to show that people living with type 1 diabetes (or any condition for that matter) can go anywhere and do anything. We are proud to work with a company that shares this message so passionately.”
To view past Miles of Portraits magazines and videos, visit https://milesofportraits.com/.
To follow Erik and Annalisa on their ride through India, visit the Miles of Portraits Instagram or Facebook pages.
Also join Aspire Eyewear, Revo and Erik and Annalisa on their social pages for additional information on the cycling duo’s trip.