A cycling enthusiast from India received a grand welcome from the British Indian community when he arrived at his final destination of Tower Bridge in London after a 450-day ride covering 30 countries.
Fayis Asraf Ali from Kerala has been riding since he was flagged in the South Indian state in August 2022 and has covered cities in Oman, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq, Iran, Armenia, Georgia, Turkey, Greece, North Macedonia, Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia, Hungary, Slovakia, Austria, Czech Republic, Poland, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Netherlands, Belgium and France. Under the banner of Ecowheelers, Ali undertook the challenge to create awareness around a series of causes, including zero carbon emissions by going green.
He said: “This voyage has a lot of social values rather than being an adventure ride. Through this ride, I intend to create awareness about fitness and healthcare, End Polio Now of the Rotary Mission, promote conflict resolution and peace building, ‘go green’ by focusing on zero carbon emissions, and an anti-drugs message in campuses through discussions and presentations with student groups en route.”
The father of two was overjoyed to see his two boys, nine-year-old Fahzin Omar and five-year-old Izin Nahel, waiting for him with his mother at the end of his cycling tour last month.
His wife Dr Asmin Fayis said: “I am proud to be married to this amazing man who is a doting father.
“He has already spoken at 24 schools, 10 colleges and three universities during the stretch of his ride.”
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Ali is using an American Surly Disk Trucker Cycle weighing around 50kg, which was sponsored by UAE-based travel and luggage accessories company Para John, with Dubai-based Emirates First and Rotary International among his supporters. He is now seeking support for a similar American cycling tour, which he hopes to undertake in the coming months.
He added: “This ride has given me tons and tons of memories and achievements. What I understood from my ride is there exist no boundaries in the people’s minds and souls. I got so much support from everyone throughout my journey, regardless of the country I travelled to.
“I stayed with families in Iran, Denmark, Sweden, Netherlands and many more places.”
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While in the UK, the cyclist is undertaking university tours and discussions to promote a healthier lifestyle.
*Info: Ecowheelers
