Cyclists race for charity in central region

The race organisers said the charity ride, which covers 500km from Thanh My commune in Quang Nam through Dong Ha city in Quang Tri province and Hue city to Danang City, aims to raise money for the Newborns Vietnam Programme that fights newborn deaths in the City and provinces by providing specialist British training for nurses and doctors, as well as life-saving equipment. 

Acting Consul General of New Zealand to Vietnam, 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 the City to the 145 km ride to the Danang Pediatrics and Obstetrics Hospital. 

On the south side of the Hai Van Pass, Gill Lever, wife of the British Ambassador to Vietnam, will lead the ladies team over the Hai Van Pass to finish the race at the hospital on September 3. 

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

Participants 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 Hanoi and completed Vietnam’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. 

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

In 2015, cyclists completed the 1,500km ride from the northern province of Lao Cai to Danang city.