A London-based cycling team is preparing to ride 550 kilometres across western Saudi Arabia to raise funds for children in Africa born with life-threatening heart conditions…reports Asian Lite News
A cycling team from London will later this month undertake a gruelling 550 km journey from Makkah to Madinah in Saudi Arabia, combining physical endurance with charitable fundraising to support children in Africa with congenital heart defects. The ride will take the cyclists through the historic Hejaz region, a landscape known as much for its spiritual significance as for its harsh terrain and extreme climate.
The challenge is being undertaken by the H&K Cycle Club, which is staging the expedition for the fifth successive year. The team hopes to raise £1 million, or around SR5 million, following last year’s effort that generated more than £750,000 for lifesaving heart surgeries. Organisers say the consistency of the annual ride has helped to build momentum, awareness and trust among supporters in the UK and beyond.
The route from Makkah to Madinah runs through the Hejaz, an area characterised by vast stretches of desert, exposed highways and fluctuating conditions. Riders are expected to face scorching daytime temperatures, strong headwinds and long hours in the saddle, testing both physical stamina and mental resilience. Despite the difficulties, many of the participants are returning riders who have completed the journey several times before.
Shamsul Abdin, the head of the H&K Cycle Club, said: “Every kilometer we ride is fueled by the strength of the children we ride for. Their courage inspires us to push through the most punishing moments.” He added: “This fifth anniversary ride is more than a milestone: it’s a celebration of hope, perseverance, and the lives we’ve been able to save together.”
Abdin’s leadership has been central to the growth of the initiative. In December he was awarded the MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) in recognition of his contribution to charitable fundraising. Supporters of the ride say the honour reflects years of sustained effort, both in organising demanding international challenges and in mobilising donors to support complex medical interventions for children who would otherwise go untreated.
For many of the cyclists, this year’s ride will be their fifth journey across the Hejaz, underlining the personal commitment involved. Participants typically train for months in advance, balancing preparation with work and family responsibilities. The club says that returning riders often act as mentors for newcomers, sharing experience about pacing, hydration and coping with fatigue in extreme heat.
Funds raised from the challenge will support the Little Hearts project run by Muntada Aid, which provides free, lifesaving cardiac surgeries for children across Africa. Since its inception in 2012, the project has helped nearly 3,500 children in 15 countries, working with local hospitals and international medical teams to deliver treatment that would otherwise be inaccessible to families living in poverty.
Kabir Miah, programmes manager at Muntada Aid, highlighted the direct impact of the fundraising effort, saying: “Every pound raised gives a child the chance to live a long and healthy life.” The charity says the cost of a single operation can be transformative, enabling children not only to survive but to attend school and participate fully in community life.
Organisers say the symbolic nature of the route between Islam’s two holiest cities adds an additional dimension to the challenge, attracting support from diverse communities. Donations are expected from individuals, families and organisations in the UK, the Middle East and Africa, reflecting the international scope of the cause. While the ride itself lasts only a matter of days, the medical work it supports can take months of planning and follow-up care.
As the cyclists prepare to set off, the emphasis remains on the children whose lives depend on the funds raised. For the H&K Cycle Club, the fifth anniversary ride is both a test of endurance and a statement of intent: that sustained commitment, repeated year after year, can deliver tangible change for some of the world’s most vulnerable patients.
