Cycle Foresight
About Foresight | Katy Our Inspiration | Cycle Foresight 2007
This community challenge had Katy in training yet again. She started in earnest, cycling on her static exercise bike everyday convinced that she would have to cycle the full 220 km coast-to-coast from Dubai to Fujairah. On the day itself , Friday 16th February 2007, she participated in many legs of the relay supported by a huge group of amazing sportsmen and women.
The team of sighted and visually impaired cyclists received a warm welcome from a big crowd of supporters at Le Meridien Al Aqah Beach Resort in Fujairah where they ended their 9 hour cycle ride. The 9 visually impaired riders cycled with a sighted "captain" in relay on specially imported tandems - made possible with sponsorship provided by Emirates Bank. The initiative will enable local people who are partially sighted and blind to participate in a new sport as the tandems have a permanent home at the Emirates Association of the Blind in Sharjah.
The ride started at 6.00 am at Le Meridien Mina Seyahi where Emirates Bank C.E.O., Rick Pudner, gave his encouragement. "I wish all the cyclists good luck and hope they have a successful and enjoyable ride after the weeks of training they have put in to make this happen." The team was made up of members of the Emirates Association of the Blind, Foresight and Tamkeen and cycling enthusiasts from Dubai.
Apart from the training sessions around the back roads of Nad Al Sheba, this was the first time that many of the riders who are visually impaired had ventured out on the roads of the U.A.E. About 25 experienced cyclists rode single road bikes in a group around the tandems to ensure maximum safety and to give their support. The group swelled to over 100 for the first leg of the journey as a local cycling club accompanied them from Safa Park to Academic City.
"It was really hard work," said Adel Al-Zamar, Vice President of the Emirates Association of the Blind, who was one of the "stokers" on the tandems. "It was also exhilarating to be part of the team going at speed on the open road." Christina Fasser, President of Retina International travelled to Dubai especially to join the event. "I have cycled many times in Switzerland but never through a desert." Christina is blind through Retinitis Pigmentosa.
The cyclists made good time at first averaging over 30km per hour speeds but slowed when they reached the mountainous parts of the route. They received a police escort for the latter half of the route which was really appreciated. All agreed it had been a lot of fun and were glad of the delicious spread provided by Le Meridien Al Aqah Beach Hotel.
Support vehicles were from Hertz who have provided transport throughout the training and event for the visually impaired members of the team and the tandems.
Le Meridien Al Aqah Beach Resort hosted a welcome reception for the team, their supporters and families, with a menu specially designed by executive chef Suzanne Ayer Storms to help replace lost energy. Medals were presented by Ibrahim Sowaidan, Group Affairs, who reiterated praise for those involved in this community activity supported by his organisation, Emirates Bank. "We are proud to be part of this unique event that has benefits throughout the sporting and local community." Emirates Bank has generously donated funds to cover the purchase of the tandems and to Foresight for research into finding a cure for hereditary eye diseases, such as Retinitis Pigmentosa, that make people go blind.
HH Sheik Marwan Mohammed Hasher Al Maktoum sent his kind regards to all the cyclists on the event. Expertise and vital support has also been provided by Wolfgang Hohmann, owner of Wolfi's Bike Shop.