‘Around the Pearl’ journey ends in Colombo on high note
The 12 cyclists who participated in the ‘Around the Pearl’ initiative were received by family, friends and supporters at the Independence Square yesterday and thereafter at the 80 club, where they celebrated the successful completion of their journey around Sri Lanka.
After having cycled for ten days to raise funds for 1000 wheelchairs for children afflicted with Cerebral Palsy, the ‘Around the Pearl’ team completed the final phase of their journey from Chilaw to Colombo yesterday. Other cycling enthusiasts participated in the last lap to extend their support to the 12 riders.
The ‘Around The Pearl’ initiative by ‘Wheels for Wheels’ was a 1427 km bicycle tour around Sr Lanka which was conducted by 12 business professionals, to raise funds for 1000 wheelchairs to aid children with Cerebral Palsy (CP).
The team comprised of Ajith Fernando, Yasas Hewage, Jehan Bastian, Suren Abeysuriya, Dushmantha Jayasinghe, Annudatta Dias, Peter Bluck, Sanjay Mendis, Gihan Hemachandra, Ravi Weerapperuma, Sarinda Unamboowe and Charlene Thuring. Charlene was the only woman who participated in the initiative and she successfully completed the ten-day bicycle ride.
The ‘Around the Pearl’ team travelled around the entire island from Colombo to Weligama on the first day and thereafter to Kataragama, Arugam Bay, Passikudah, Trincomalee, Mullaitivu, Jaffna, Mannar, and Chilaw over a 9-day period, finally reaching Colombo on the last day. At some of their stops, the team conducted road safety sessions as part of the Blinking Lights project conducted by WrooM. WrooM focuses on promoting cycling in Sri Lanka as an alternative transport mode and the project also aims to increase awareness of public road safely rules amongst cyclists.
Individuals and corporates could still support the ‘Around the Pearl’ initiative by visiting the website (www.aroundthepearl.lk) to make a donation. Each wheelchair costs approximately USD 100 and the goal of the Around the Pearl initiative is to raise enough funds for 1000 wheelchairs.
The ‘Around the Pearl’ initiative by ‘Wheels for Wheels’ was conducted in partnership with the Cerebral Palsy Lanka Foundation (CPLF) and WrooM. Sponsors and partners of the initiative include Janashakthi Insurance, Orient Finance, CAL, Jetwing Hotels, Wijeya Newspapers, Blinking Bikes, Shift and Leo Burnett.