Cyclists raise QR1.5mn for new school in Gaza

The annual charity ride in Europe organised by Qatar Cyclists Centre has attracted 25 Qatari cyclists and raised some QR1.5mn this year, its director Dr Abdulaziz al-Kuwari has said.Qatar Cyclists Centre is known as a cycling centre for amateurs sponsored by the Ministry of Culture and Sports. Speaking to Gulf Times at the opening of Freej Aspire on Friday, al-Kuwari said that the money collected from the ride will be used to build a school in Gaza.“Qatar Charity has started building the project and we are very proud of this,” he stressed. “We are also proud that 25 Qataris of different ages, the oldest was 61 and the youngest was 20, had participated and we are very happy about this.”Last year, al-Kuwari said they were able to raise QR1mn from the 800km charity ride, which started in Vienna and ended in Berlin. Peddling their way across Europe, participants crossed Czech Republic, Austria and Germany.Qatar Cyclists Centre also holds races and competitions as part of its efforts to promote the sport in the country. These include a 42km race from the Sealine beach to an offroad area outside Doha, which attracted some 133 participants, and the Heart of Qatar cycling event.“A Canadian won the 42km race followed by a guy from Dubai and the third placer was a Qatari,” al-Kuwari said. “More and more Qataris are participating in this beautiful sport.”Other than the weekly and yearly rides, the centre also organised the first cycling for women only in Qatar dubbed as Women on Wheels held in April at the Losail Circuit Sports Club, attracting more than 300 participants. The event also engaged young children to various games and physical activities.Besides weekly and regular rides, the centre is also conducting a number of training sessions and workshops at its tent at Freej Aspire located along Mehairja street.Some of its programmes include stationery training sessions for Freej visitors especially bike enthusiasts.“We also explain to the community different types of bicycles (mountain and hybrid bikes, among others), give courses and workshops on bike safety and maintenance regularly,” al-Kuwari said.He added that visitors, especially children, will have the opportunity to play around, exercise and learn cycling for free, and enjoy the atmosphere at the venue as well.“We do the workshop indoor and then we take riders to the road for a practice,” he said, adding: “We also teach them the safety precautions while on the road and the rider etiquette.”