Image of the Logo which shows a cartoon of Cathy, Bernard and Biscuit standing on a globe with Bertha.Image of the Logo which shows a cartoon of Cathy, Bernard and Biscuit standing on a globe with Bertha.     Site Map         A Blind Woman, Two Wheels and 25,000 Miles     Skip to content

Start:

Catherine has appeared in numerous publications, on radio, TV programmes and internet sites around the world, from Pakistan to Australia and beyond. For recent articles from Australia please select here. While in Australia she also appeared on ABC Radio for a live breakfast broadcast. Please select here for recent Australian interview posted on YouTube. For Radio 4 Interview (Saturday Live - Inheritance Tracks) select here. Cathy also completed several interviews for RNIB Insight Radio. The first interview was based on the importance of regular eye tests which can be found here. The second interview was focused on the journey which can he found by selecting here. Cathy and Bernard are on You Tube (select here). For TV interview on the Biker Show broadcast on Sky and Virgin select here

Link to the video clips of the journey posted on the site do date.

To open a copy of the 'Return Home' Press Release please select here for a PDF document.

For Granada TV interview 'Around the World in one hundred seconds' please select here.

Radio Interviews performed on return after the 26,000 Mile Journey.

Interview on BBC Radio programme 'You and Yours'

Interview with Peter White on BBC Radio four In-Touch.

BBC Radio Manchester with Heather Stott

Five Live with Aasmah Mir.

City Talk broadcast with Duncan Barkes.

For a long interview with Wythenshaw Radio with Kath Foden select here.

For RNIB Insight Radio please select here,  

Recent articles on the Journey.

Manchester Evening News

To open this article please double click on the image to open in a new window.

Disability Now Magazine

Candis Magazine

Yours Magazine on Return.

Yours Magazine (Prior to Leaving).

The People Sunday Newspaper Magazine

The Weekly News

Brits at their Best

The Liverpool Echo.

Blind adventurer climbs Machu Picchu - News - Vision Australia Website

http://www.visionaustralia.org/info.aspx?page=823&news=1024

http://www.news.com.au/perthnow/story/0,21598,25053736-2761,00.html

http://inner-west-courier-west.whereilive.com.au/news/story/world-of-inspiration/

Extract of Interview conducted in India with George Abraham from the Score Foundation.

http://www.eyeway.org/inspires/interview-1/cathy-and-bernard

Earlier articles.

Articles 1, 2, and 3 are published by Action for Blind People in their internal magazine 'Intermission'. The article describes the 2,500 test run made through the Pyrenees and French Alps to test the feasibility of making a longer trip. There are three links regarding this trip. The first link is to the Front Cover of the first publication about the trip. The second link is a Microsoft Word version of the article. The article 3 link is a PDF version of the article.

Article 1 (PDF cover of Intermission Magazine)

Article 2 (Word Document)

Article 3 (PDF version)

Article 4 (Press Release 1) - issued independently.

Article 5 (Press Release 2) - issued by the Royal National Institute of the Blind Press Office in Association with Guide dogs for the Blind and Action for Blind People.

List of articles, radio interviews and publications who have featured the journey. We must admit we still find articles we did not even know exist!

Latest News May 2007

BBC Radio Merseyside

Buzz FM

Key 103

Wythenshawe Community Radio

InSight Radio.

BBC Radio Manchester

Wire FM

Independent Television (ITV)

In terms of Print Media:

Manchester Evening News. Select here for the story - special thanks to the staff at the M.E.N for allowing us to use their photographs for various purposes).

There was a large page three article in the Liverpool Daily Post and Liverpool Echo.

Online Articles

This is Cheshire - select here for the story

Liverpool Daily Post - select here for the story.

Auto Trader - select here for the story.

Guide Dogs - select here for the story.

Guide Dogs 2 - select here for the story.

Warrington World Wide - select here for the story.

Previous stories featuring Catherine Birchall - select here for the story

British Retinitus Pigmentosa Society, London's Dinner, Auction and Raffle
Held at the House of Commons on 20 September 2003. Select here for the story.

A real eye-opener of a day - From the Guardian Series, first published Monday 16th Oct 2000. By JANE FIELD. Select here for the story.

Link to RNIB synopsis of story - Select here for the story.

Link to Action for Blind Synopsis of story - select here for the story.

Bike Animal - The overall aim of this site is to encompass all aspects of motorcycling. It includes the latest news from the industry, up to date race reports, news from the leading championships and road safety advice for motorcyclists. You can find the story on the site here. 

Latest News June 2007

Manchester Evening News - the Manchester Evening News re-ran the story on Tuesday 29 May: (Select here to go to the story)

First TV appearance

Picture taken from the first TV appearance of Cathy and Bernard. We are sitting by the bike in the garage being interviewed for the Biker Show broadcast on Sky 203 and Virgin 878.Channel M (Select here to go to the channel) on a show called The Biker Show (Select here to go to a list of the show).

Sky - on channel 203 - or can access ntl digital cable TV on channel 878. It is also available on Virgin 878.

You can watch the full episode by selecting HERE.

Bike Animal (who sponsor the Biker Show above) have also featured the story. Please select here to go to the feature.

 

Print update

Ability Magazine

Dial Magazine

Mobilise Magazine

Real Travel have also featured the story now (Select here to go to the Magazine).

The Bikeress Picture of Catherine at Manchester BBC Radio waiting for the interview.(Select here to go to the Bikeress).

News Links - Select here to link to Investors.com Media Centre.

The Florida Division of Blind Services - select here for story.

The Journey has appeared in Da Moto a Spanish Magazine. If you can read Spanish (!) Select HERE

Motorcycle News brief summary was published on 6th June edition.

Latest News July 2007

In July we completed the final test run which involved going from John O'Groats to Land's End (via Outer Hebrides and various Islands!) through the great floods of the summer. Select here for week one report, here for week two report and here for week three) on the test run.

If you understand Hungarian (!) then you can select here to review the story

and here

and here

and here

and here

and here

and here

You can watch a short clip of the TV appearance on You Tube by selecting here.

You can watch a short clip of a test trip by selecting here

Cathy was also interviewed about the World Tour by Warrington General Hospital Radio while she attended the Disability Awareness Day in July as part of the Guide Dogs Fundraising Team.  

Latest News August 2007

Catherine has written a section for a book being produced by the Canadian Council for the Blind.

We are very grateful for the assistance of George Abraham of India who will be handling our connections in that country (select You Tube video or here for biographical details of George). 

Latest News September 2007

Cathy is now huge in Hungary and well known in Spain and a host of other other countries thanks to their help.

Picture of Cathy sitting on the bike.Latest News January 2008

Cathy appears featured on Radio Four 'Inheritance Tracks'

Latest News March 2008

Cathy appears in 'Yours' magazine (by Sam Howells).

Latest News July 2008

Cathy's story appeared in Motorcycle news. Also appears twice on Insight Radio. You can hear the interviews by selecting here.

Select here to go to top of page

Picture of Cathy sitting in the French Pyrenees overlooking the clouds.

Picture of Cathy sitting in the FRench Pyrenees overlooking the clouds.

"Being Blind means you see the world in a different way" (Catherine Birchall, 2006)

This web site and all contents belong to Catherine Birchall and Bernard Smith. Please respect Copyright by citing ownership of all materials. Copyright © 2006 - www.worldtour.org.uk. All rights reserved. Last updated: 30-06-10.