Help Us Film Mike’s 2,700-Mile Ride Before He Goes Blind

Mike Bowen's story isn’t just moving. It’s a paradox.

Today, May 21, 2025, Mike gets on his bike in New Mexico and begins pedaling 2,700 miles north along the Continental Divide.

It’s not just a ride. It’s a race against time. Why?

Because Mike was diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa, a rare genetic eye disease that will gradually take his vision. There is no cure. The very sense tied to one of his passion for engaging with the world through the lens of his camera to notice, to document, to connect is the one he’s losing. That’s not just tragic—it’s powerful. Because that loss became a turning point.

What if losing your sight helped you finally see?

In his early 30s, Mike walked away from the life he had built in Tennessee leaving behind comfort, career burnout, and a version of himself that no longer felt authentic. He wanted something that felt like freedom.

He landed in Oregon, living out of a van, hoping the simplicity of that life might bring healing. But instead of peace, things spiraled. The drinking ramped up. The partying intensified. He was chasing clarity but burying himself deeper in distraction. Beneath the surface, he was unraveling.

Then came the diagnosis.

Retinitis Pigmentosa didn’t just threaten his future. It forced him to confront his present.

That confrontation became a turning point. Not overnight, but in motion. Not a perfect transformation, but a decision to stop running and start facing.

He’s going blind. And he’s still choosing to see.

Not just see, but live. Fully. Honestly. Urgently.

This story isn’t just about a diagnosis. It’s not about a photographer losing his sight. It’s about what we do when life doesn’t go to plan and how we keep going, with resilience, vulnerability, and radical authenticity.

This is the heart of our documentary.

Eyes on the Horizon follows Mike riding the CD as he reckons with his diagnosis, his past, and the emotional terrain between them. It’s not just about the miles. It’s about choosing bold action in the face of uncertainty. About doing something radical with the time you have.

In a world where mental health struggles are often hidden and conformity is the norm, Mike’s story is a rare, unfiltered look at what it means to reclaim your own narrative. His battle with fear, self-doubt, and personal demons resonates with anyone who has ever questioned their path.

This film challenges a universal truth: time is fleeting. Whether or not we face a diagnosis, we are all on a timeline. Eyes on the Horizon is more than an adventure documentary. It’s a wake-up call that waiting is a choice, and action is the only way forward.

As Mike confronts both optimism and fear and the ticking clock of his condition, he invites all of us to reflect: What does it truly mean to live? And what’s stopping me from chasing my own happiness?

HERE'S WHY WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT

Mike has chosen to face all of it—his past, his diagnosis, and the road ahead. And we want to document every mile of that journey.

Thanks to the incredible support of our Seed&Spark backers, we’ve raised $16,000—enough to send our team out for one 5-day shoot with Mike during his 56-day ride. That support made a real impact, and it laid the foundation for something bigger.

To fully tell Mike’s story with the depth and presence it deserves, we’re aiming to raise the remaining $180,000. Your support will help us:

1. Join Mike on the trail THREE separate times to be boots on the ground over the course of his 8-week, 2,700-mile ride—capturing his progress across New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, and into Alberta, Canada.

2. Film the emotional climax of Mike’s journey in Banff. Without this, we miss the opportunity to complete his story arc both visually and emotionally. More than that, we miss the chance to stand beside him not just as filmmakers but as friends, to celebrate everything he’s pushed through to get there.

3. Conduct in-person interviews with his previous partner, eye doctor, and closest friends. Right now, our budget only allows for remote Zoom recordings, which take away from the cinematic impact and emotional presence.

4. Bring the story to life in post-production with editing, sound design, color, and an original score. In our eyes, music and sound aren’t just finishing touches. They’re a vital supporting character in the film, helping guide the emotional rhythm.

With your help, you're not just funding a documentary. You’re helping deliver a wake up call to open our eyes before life forces them shut..