Cycling For a Cause

Kuala Lumpur, 28 August 2009 – Project Ryders of HELP University College who embarked on a 2 week cycling trip from Petaling Jaya to North Malaysia have returned with a total of 5000 signatures and RM4,000 in donations collected up to date. These donations came in the form of corporate and individual sponsorships.

Weather conditions, financial constraints, and team members’ health issues have prevented the team from completing the targeted journey of 1,140 km and collecting 10,000 signatures at the same time. Of the 1,140 km, Project Ryders team members completed 600 km. Undeterred from their goal, the team will complete the remaining 500 km in a second leg cycling journey around Selangor in September 2009 while collecting more signatures in return for corporate sponsorships.

The idea of Project Ryders was born when four ordinary college students had a random chat about college and life. The conversations soon led to their mutual passion for cycling and helping the underprivileged.

“Throughout the 2 weeks of the charity ride, the team went through ups and downs. No doubt we faced many obstacles and hiccups that put our mental and physical ability to test. Be it tire punctures, bad weather, rough road conditions, team disagreements. Yes, the journey was not easy, said Nicholas Chew Bing Fei, Head of Project Ryder organising committee and one of the cyclists at the mock cheque presentation ceremony held today at HELP.

“I must say we are disappointed that we did not complete the journey and targeted pledges amount as planned. Nevertheless, will continue cycling the remaining 500 km, and collecting pledges within the next 1 month before officially ending the project”, enthuses the determined Nicholas.

Nicholas is a final year Bachelor of Psychology student and he was joined by Ian Ho Wei Yee, Ng Leng Jet, Sharon Chong, KJ Wong and Catherine Chin.

The proceeds for ILSelangor come in the form of corporate companies pledging cash donations based on the number of signatures collected. In order to collect as many signatures possible, the cyclists, together with a car crew set up pledge booths along the way at public areas such as shopping malls, walkways and beaches where members of the public can sign-up for pledges and buy handicrafts made by the disabled.

Also present at the launch today is Dr. Khong Kim Hoong, Senior Vice President of HELP University College, Mr. Levi Cheng, Key Account Manager from Teh Huat Brothers Trading who presented the mock cheque of RM4,000 to Mr. Yeoh Kee Soon, General Secretary of the Society of Independent Living for the Disabled Selangor.

Project Ryders in an initiative of HELP University College with support from Menjalara 18, Nestle, Teh Huat Brothers Trading and Queensbay Mall, Penang. For more information of the cyclists’ journey please visit http://project-ryders.blogspot.com/

Read the news articles here!

Riding High, The Star, 6 September 2009
A Good Experience in Life, Nanyang Siang Pau, 6 September 2009
Cycling for Charity, Oriental Daily, 8 September 2009

And the photos...


Jet and Ian cycling very hard


Signatures and photos from Langkawi residents


The First Donation!!


Sekinchan residents with the Project Ryders Team