Euphoria at Green Memorial Hospital, Manipay

9 March 2023 03:00 pm

After much anticipation, planning, training and fundraising, the ride concluded at the Green Memorial Hospital in Manipay, Jaffna. Applauded by medical staff at GMH, over sixty weary cyclists crossed the finish line in Manipay following a marathon 475km trek from Arugam Bay.

Set up to raise funds to restore and rebuild Green Memorial Hospital, the ride  has once again proved to be a monumental triumph.

Ever increasing in popularity and prominence, the wheels are already in motionfor R4C2024. Offering an altogether different challenge, R4C2024 will set the cyclists the arduous task of peddling from Kandy to Jaffna from 28th Feb to 2nd Mar 2024. The demand to participate in next year’s ride has already commenced.

Co Founder, David Rasiah, was keen to highlight the role of the Sri Lankan Police. Tasked with escorting the riders, the police willingly assisted in many other areas. A special mention to IGP C D Wickramaratne, SDIG Happugoda and SSP Chamil Rathnayake for their support.

This years ride focussed on purchasing a digital X-ray machine for GMH. Not only did the fundraising efforts exceed the amount required, the balance funds might be used to repair the current machine and gift it to another hospital.

Innovative and forward thinking, R4C is the only ride to ensure that each rider is trained to use a defibrillator and perform CPR in an emergency.

Some of the riders were taken on a tour of the hospital to see that their dedicated achievements are reaping wondrous results. Those who toured, were astonished at the scale of the development.

As the cyclists now return home to locations as far a field as Canada, France, Singapore, the United Kingdom and Australia, they must be truly encouraged to witness the project at Green Memorial Hospital taking shape.

The R4C Committee would like to express their gratitude to all the partners, sponsors, riders, donors, helpers, the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau and DMC - House Of Travels  for making this ride a success.

For further info www.ride4ceylon.com