120 brave cyclists took to the outback of east Africa for Norwood’s international bike ride in Kenya, which raised an incredible £400,000. The ride, which began in the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro and finished by the clear waters of the Indian Ocean in Mombasa, took the group through the breathtaking scenery of the area’s national parks, where they were able to get up close and personal with the local wildlife.
The riders had their cycling skills put to the test, navigating the unmade roads and mountains while enduring the glare of the African sun. However, this did not seem to deter one couple who decided to combine participating in one of Norwood’s most challenging rides with celebrating their honeymoon!
Newlyweds Ariella and Jeremie Dreyfuss, from Israel, who married last year, chose to forego a traditional honeymoon in favour of taking part in the 400km bike ride. Ariella, who until a few months ago had not cycled a great deal, said: “The team spirit on the ride was palpable and I was in awe of the tandem riders who were carrying double their weight across Kenya and offering a constant chorus of encouragement and motivation. Norwood is simply amazing to provide such opportunities for their service users to see and experience the world.”
The route also took cyclists through local communities where they came across Masai warriors, and stopped to hand out sweets and footballs to a great number of school children who were filled with curiosity at the team passing through their villages.
Upon completing the ride, Ariella said: “It is rare to be at the stage in your life when you can train and embark on an adventure like this with your partner and it was absolutely sensational to share the trepidation, nerves and excitement, the sunrises and the sunsets and the sense of incredible achievement. It was simply the honeymoon of a lifetime!”
Also taking part in the ride were four father and son teams, three husband and wife teams, riders from Brazil and America and some of the people who use Norwood’s services. They included 50-year-old Anthony Lane, who lives in Norwood residential accommodation in Ilford. Anthony was born with detached retinas and cataracts in both eyes and is registered blind. He was a keen cyclist but his poor eyesight has meant that in recent years he has been unable to cycle on his own. However, thanks to Norwood’s ‘Cycle My Way’ programme, designed to encourage and teach people with learning disabilities to get on a bike, he felt confident enough to climb back in the saddle after a 10 year absence and complete the ride as part of a tandem team.
More more information on Norwood Challenges visit: www.norwood.org.uk/challenges
