On a cycling mission for charity
Published: May 28, 2005
TAKE three friends, a couple of bicycles, a distance the length of Great Britain and a good cause. Put them together and what do you get? A summer mission by three Malaysian students in England to raise £3000 (RM21,000) for Oxfam by cycling 1,600km from Land’s End to John O’Groats – the two furthest points in Great Britain.
The very notion of having to lug equipment and daily essentials along a long bike ride through the British countryside is probably enough to put many off physical activity altogether.
However, it has not deterred Ahmad Fahmi Ismail, Ryan Soo and Justin Lim, three university students who met during college, from attempting the classic British challenge in a bid to raise money for Oxfam Great Britain, “a development, relief, and campaigning organisation that works with others to find lasting solutions to poverty and suffering around the world.” (from www.oxfam.org.uk).
While the challenge itself is not something new to the British, it is not every day that one hears about young Malaysians taking the initiative to embark on a physical challenge such as this to help a cause they feel strongly about.
“We decided on Oxfam because it’s community support. It’s not handing a wad of cash to the community. Instead, it’s promoting economic independence,” explains Justin, 20, a student of the University of Bristol who hails from Alor Setar, Kedah.
Ahmad Fahmi, 20, who is originally from Petaling Jaya, Selangor, and now pursuing his undergraduate studies in the University of Warwick, adds, “We decided that we needed a highly visible and well known charity if we wanted to get sponsors from the British populace. Of course, Oxfam also assists community building in Third World countries, something which I admire and respect.”
The project started off as part of the three friends’ resolve to go on an annual “crazy challenge”, according to Ryan, 20, a native of Sandakan, Sabah who is currently a student of King’s College London.
They scaled Mt. Kinabalu and swam around Pulau Sipadan in Sabah last year. Their impending journey promises more thrills and adventure for the outdoor enthusiasts, something Ahmad Fahmi is looking forward to.
“I think it’s a great opportunity to see the British countryside. It’s also a relatively tough challenge, and definitely a step up from our previous challenges, which were hiking up mountains like Kinabalu, Snowdon & Kinder Scout.”
Like every other project, the planning process has not been smooth sailing. Since all three are full-time students, it has been a struggle to get together to train for the long bike ride in summer while maintaining academic excellence.
They each have their own training regiment.
Ahmad Fahmi plans to extend his cycling to 165km in a single run. Justin, on the other hand, has been concentrating on short bursts of high speed and altitude climbing on the hilly landscape in Bristol.
Ryan, who unfortunately resides in cycle-unfriendly London, has been going to the gym fairly often to build up his strength.
“It’s also hard to abstain from thinking about the fun we’ll have while sitting for exams,” says Ryan.
The main difficulty, however, has been raising sufficient funds. The three aim to raise £3000 for Oxfam, £1 for every mile they each cycle.
At present, they have collected around £700, leaving them a good bit short of their target.
“You can rest assured that you’ll be helping poor fishermen and farmers in Third World countries to enjoy better standards of living. Some quick statistics from Oxfam: £30 can buy a thousand tree seedlings. £12 can train a voluntary health worker in Africa. £126 can buy desks and chairs for a class of children,” says Ahmad Fahmi.
Ryan adds, “Oxfam helps the developing countries.
Besides exploring the lengths of Britain and raising money for charity, all three have personal goals to accomplish through their journey.
Justin has the simple wish to help make the world a better place, and to take “nice pictures” while Ryan aims to finish the course (“It ain’t easy!”) as well as do his part for charity.
Ahmad Fahmi, however, has a slightly different goal. He explains, “When I asked my university friends whether they would like to join the three of us for the ride, I was expecting an “Interesting, I’ll think about it” instead of “Lazy lah” or “Too ambitious”. I’d like to prove to them that it can be done even by someone as unfit as me!”
The agenda includes the other British challenges such as the London Marathon and the swim across the English Channel, as well as a cycling trip across Europe and, according to Ahmad Fahmi, “other Malaysian community-centric projects floating around which are currently undergoing, and will hopefully be rolling out by the beginning of the next academic term.”
In the meantime, though, the lads are counting on their sense of humour and endless wit to last them through the ride awaiting them in summer.
Any concern that those may run out? Justin is confident that that is not possible.
“We do not fear the Reaper,” he quips. Ryan is equally sure that the three friends will be able to support one another through the potential physical and mental fatigue.
He smiles, “Three of us run out of humour? Not until the London Bridge falls.”
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