A visually impaired couple from New Brunswick is beginning a nearly 300-kilometre bike ride across P.E.I. today to raise money for the Canadian National Institute for the Blind.

Tim and Amanda Doucette, from Moncton, are legally blind and rely on each other to navigate.

"We have about 10 per cent eyesight, both of us, but our eyesight is different so we work really well as a team. We kind of tell each other what we see at the same time. We're helping each other out," Tim told CBC News.

The Doucettes use headsets and microphones to communicate with each other about potential hazards in their path and a gadget that magnifies things eight times.

"I use it to read signs and to cross roads," Tim says

Tim has been legally blind since birth and started cycling at an early age. Amanda was born with a condition called coloboma, which causes a deformity of the iris, limiting her visual field.

The route runs from one end of the Island to the other, a distance of nearly 300 kilometres. (Eye Bike 4 Sight)

The pair says they find a sense of freedom from cycling. Their goal is to "inspire others to look beyond their disability and find ways to achieve their dreams," Doucette's blog about the trip states.

They are aiming to raise $5,000 for the CNIB and are just $1,000 away from reaching that goal.

"They've been there since we've been in school with itinerant teachers. They've helped us with large print books. They helped us when we went on to university to acquire computers. Then when we went on to the workforce, they were there again to help us integrate," Amanda said.

Tim says safety is a concern.

"The highest risk is the roads and trying to navigate the roads. In general, we try to stay off the roads," he said.

The couple plans to travel from North Cape to East Point over seven days, covering about 288 kilometres. They expect to provide live updates and photos on their blog during their adventure.

"We're comfortable enough with each other that we can tackle anything. We've tackled many things before," Tim said.