Join a 2,000-km Charity Bike Ride from Shenzhen to Shanghai

With the joint effort of 11 Shangri-La properties in south and east China, the Ride for Hope charity activity will pedal off on 16 November 2013 from Futian Shangri-La, Shenzhen, and reach its final destination in Shanghai on 7 December 2013.

Along the 2,000-kilometre route, the three-week ride will pass through four provinces and 22 cities. A group of riders organised by the Shangri-La properties in Shenzhen, Fuzhou, Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Ningbo, Wenzhou, Suzhou and Shanghai, will join six dedicated riders committed to completing the entire journey.

Cycling is becoming very popular in Asia. Click to Enlarge.

The six riders, cycling with unified Trek brand bikes, include Mr. Nicholas Smith, resident manager of Futian Shangri-La, Shenzhen and initiator of this activity; Mr. Thomas Bird, a British freelance writer based in Shenzhen; Mr. Carl Wu, a young cycling aficionado from Shenzhen; Mr. Li Xiao Bao, who once cycled 2,600 kilometres from Yunnan to Lhasa, crossing the west of China; Mr. Lu Yushui, a cycling enthusiast dedicated to helping children in Guangxi Autonomous Region; and Mr. Lu Bao Kang, who ranked number ten among 500 racers in the most recent tournament in Beihai City.

An SUV supported by Mercedes-Benz and Zung Fu China will provide mechanical support and medical assistance by trailing the six riders throughout the journey.

“Ride for Hope was initiated to raise money for those people in need. Only with the support and assistance from Shangri-La hotels and sponsors are we able to undertake this cycling challenge and execute it on such a scale,” said Mr. Emil Leung, area manager and general manager of Futian Shangri-La, Shenzhen.

The 11 participating Shangri-La hotels are Futian Shangri-La, Shenzhen; Shangri-La Hotel, Shenzhen; Shangri-La Hotel, Fuzhou; Shangri-La Hotel, Guangzhou; Shangri-La Hotel, Hangzhou; Shangri-La Hotel, Ningbo; Shangri-La Hotel, Wenzhou; Shangri-La Hotel, Suzhou; Pudong Shangri-La, East Shanghai; Jing An Shangri-La, West Shanghai and Kerry Hotel Pudong, Shanghai.

Cyclists who wish to join the Ride for Hope event can register at any of the 11 Shangri-La hotels and donate a fee of Rmb200 per adult or Rmb100 per child.

The official shirt for this activity is available at the participating Shangri-La hotels for Rmb500 each.

All entry fees, shirt revenue and voluntary donations collected along the ride will fund three selected beneficiaries - a group of villagers living in Guangxi Autonomous Region, Shenzhen Blue Ocean Conservation Association and the Will Foundation.

Beneficiaries

Guangxi Autonomous Region: A group of villagers, around 20 families, living in the Guangxi Autonomous Region have just moved from the mountains to live along the newly built road in a small village in the Guangxi Autonomous Region. The villagers used to obtain precious water from the stone caves during the rainy season. Having lost their only access to water, the villagers urgently need to build water cellars to store water during the rainy season. The water will be sufficient for a year’s consumption. Each water cellar costs Rmb6,000 and the Shangri-La hotels are targeting to raise RMB120,000 to build 20 cellars.

Shenzhen Blue Ocean Conservation Association: It is the first non-government organisation in China devoted to ocean conservation and organises volunteering activities to clean and preserve the ocean. It plans to set up fish houses (artificial coral reefs) in the ocean to restore fish species.

WILL Foundation: Based in Shanghai, the WILL Foundation gives orphans hope and a future. Its mission is to support children, who have been left behind in life, and to provide them with a loving and nurturing environment at an eco-learning centre that will provide them with a tailored guided programme.