Biking on roads less travelled
Sarinda Unamboowe, Ajith Fernando, Manjula Kulatunga and Yasas Hewage at the press conference
Weddings… dinners… parties… Anyone who lives in Colombo knows about the many gatherings which are held in the city, where no expense is spared to ensure that guests enjoy themselves thoroughly.
The seemingly endless list of functions one attends is something which most people would understand following the Christmas season which concluded a few weeks ago.
Ajith Fernando had most certainly taken this fact into consideration when he decided to do something different for his 50th birthday. Instead of hosting the usual ‘bash’, which he realised would last only a few hours, he decided to cycle around the country. After his friends joined in, they decided to cycle in aid of cerebral palsy. The rest, as they say, is history.
Around the Pearl (the initiative which grew out of Mr. Fernando’s idea) is being held for the third time from April 7 -17. ‘The passion of riding a bike can spin the wheels of a wheelchair,’ says Yasas Hewage, one of the main organisers. Set to cover a distance of 1,400 km, the route will start in Colombo travel through Galle, Trincomalee, Chilaw and many other areas along the coastal belt of Sri Lanka before returning to Colombo.
Speaking at a press conference held to announce the plans of Around the Pearl 2016, many cyclists said that the journey was both life changing and an excellent chance to see the roads less travelled in a way which one would not be able to see them while driving past.
The initiative raised funds for 1,500 wheelchairs last year and they will be donated to children across the country throughout the journey. Special camps to raise awareness about cerebral palsy will be held in Galle, Batticaloa and Colombo.
The wheelchairs, which are to be donated, have been designed with the needs of children living with cerebral palsy in mind. Special straps will support a child to sit up properly and other relevant adjustments have been made to ensure the maximum comfort of the child.
The wheelchairs, which are bought in bulk from a distributor in China, cost $100 each with the discount offered to Around the Pearl. The wheelchairs have been built to last and come with a specialised toolbox which is included at no additional cost. In fact one wheelchair was tested for six months by the organisers before the rest were ordered.
With Australian Property Consultancy coming on board as a new main sponsor, Around the Pearl hopes to raise funds internationally as well, particularly from the Australian community.
Plans for introducing Around the Pearl to various celebrities and other eminent personalities within Australia were also discussed and the organisers hope that their goal of raising funds for 40,000 wheelchairs will be realised much faster with their help.
The official hotel partner for the event is Jetwing Hotels, who will organise two days of camping this year in addition to looking after accommodation arrangements to make the journey more exciting for cyclists.
While anyone can join as a cyclist, support is given to those who do so that they can complete the journey safely. This includes guidance on how to train for the event and professional mechanics and a backup team to support riders throughout.
Cyclists interested in joining can visit the website www.aroundthepearl.lk for further information.
| what is Cerebral palsy? Cerebral palsy occurs when the motor control centres of the brain are damaged or develop abnormally. It was explained at the press conference that cerebral palsy is not necessarily a birth defect but can occur at any time if there is significant neurological damage to the motor control centres. Certain diseases can sometimes cause neurological damage resulting in cerebral palsy. The stigma and lack of support received by people living with cerebral palsy, especially children, was another main topic of discussion at the event. Many feel that children with cerebral palsy are not capable of leading a relatively normal life and this is what ‘Around the Pearl’ is striving to change. |