About 50 cyclists from United Kingdom organisations in Viet Nam, and those from Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Australia, Thailand and Viet Nam will join the “Cycle a Difference’ ride from Quang Nam Province to Da Nang from September 1-3.

About 50 cyclists will join the “Cycle a Difference’ ride on September 1-3 (Photo: VNA)

The race organisers said the charity ride covers 500km from Quang Nam Province's Thanh My commune in  through Quang Tri Province's Dong Ha City and Hue City to Da Nang.  The intention is to raise funds for the Newborns VietNam Programme that fights newborn deaths in the cities and provinces by providing specialist British training for nurses and doctors, as well as life-saving equipment.

Acting Consul General of New Zealand to Viet Nam, William Young, Dr Mariano Anderle, Scientific Attaché Italian Embassy and Claudio Dordi, Professor of International law, Bocconi University, Milan, Italy and technical assistance team leader of EU-MUTRAP project, will join the cycling on September 3 in Hue and lead the cyclists out of Hue City to the 145 km ride to the Da Nang Pediatrics and Obstetrics Hospital.

On the south side of the Hai Van Pass, Mrs Gill Lever, wife of the British Ambassador to Viet Nam, will lead the ladies team over the Hai Van Pass to finish the race at Da Nang's hospital on September 3.

According to the race organisers, ‘Cycle a Difference’ rides have raised over 700,000 USD and 166 cyclists from around the world have cycled over 140,000km for the last three years.

Particpants include Paul Lasenby, an English former professional mountain biker, Richard Dunnett, a British mountain biking national champion, Round the World Race finalist David Lloyd, who lives and works in Ha Noi and completed Viet Nam’s first bicycle ‘Everesting’ by cycling up Ba Vi mountain nine times in one day to record a total ascent of 8,848m – the height of Mount Everest.

Viet Nam Airlines supports Newborns Viet Nam’s and has donated flights to support British led post qualification training for junior doctors.

In 2015, cyclists completed the 1,500km ride from Lao Cai Province to Da Nang.

(Source: VNA)