A group of professionals embarked on a 60- hour bicycling marathon covering a distance of 1492 km from Delhi to Mumbai to raise funds for underprivileged children suffering from cancer. The cycling enthusiasts who go by the name of ‘Wurlee 545’ have already raised Rs 1.2 crore through crowd-funding and other contributions, aim to raise a further Rs 1.5 crore through this ride. “We are a bunch of adventure enthusiasts and friends. Cycling has been a common hobby between all of us. We all believe in pushing the envelope and challenging ourselves. What better than combining your passion and profession to help the needy,” shares Prashant Mehta, founding partner, Lightbox and one of the cyclists. He continues, “Every morning we used to meet at Worli in Mumbai before office hours at 5:45 and hence the group is known as Wurlee 545. Our focus is to support cancer affected kids and their families in leading a better life while they undergo treatment. We were inspired by the plight of the kids and the passion and commitment of all the people at St Jude’s and felt that it was our obligation to help them.”
All proceeds from the raised funds will go to St Jude’s NGO to improve the quality of life of those living with the condition. Jaideep Khanna, CEO and country head, Barclays, says, “Nihal Kaviratne and his wife Shyama Kaviratne started St Jude with an aim to support kids suffering from cancer and their families. Soon, doctors raised concerns that kids affected by cancer undergo chemotherapy and this makes their immune system weak. We also came to know about the living conditions of these kids and their families. People are spending a high amount of money for the treatment of these kids, but no attention is paid towards providing a healthy and cheerful environment to ensure their fast recovery. And that’s how we came up with the idea of this ride and raising money to support such an NGO.”
Talking about the challenges faced in their mission, Jaideep says, “In addition to riding the 1500 km from Delhi to Mumbai, the challenge was to do it non-stop. This meant that we had to ensure that there was nutrition available to the riders at all times, that there was technical support in case of mechanical failures and some place for the riders to rest between their turns on the bicycles. All this had to be organised for a moving entourage that doesn’t really stop for more than 45 m at any stop, in the hinterland where provisions are relatively basic. And this had to be done while trying to keep to a schedule.”
He continues, “The organisers, Odati Adventures led by Jayesh Morvankar, the sponsors, Scott, Isuzu and Unived, did a fabulous job of providing equipment and support. Ashwini Kapila, a senior banker at Barclays was the road captain who ensured that everything ran like clockwork and co-ordinated all the activities. A special feature of this ride was the commitment and drive of all involved who went above and beyond to deliver with passion, affection and generosity.”
Swiss company SCOTT Sports showed its support by providing bikes and riding gear to the participants. Talking about the tie-up and the role of the sports brand, Jaideep says, “Jaymin Shah, the country manager of SCOTT Sports India has been a close friend and when we shared the idea of this ride, he immediately agreed to support our cause.”
