A very successful cycle ride!
November 24, 2009
Robert Harper, has been to Nazareth and back, on his charity cycle ride to raise funds for the Nazareth Hospital. Let Robert tell his story in his own words.
„Survived bike ride, an amazing experience, shared with a fantastic group of 18 riders and great support team. A truly physically demanding bike ride.
Day one of the actual ride was expected to be an easier opening day, cycling mostly down hill from Madaba, 20km from Amman to the Dead Sea. A very strong wind blew (in our face) making cycling very tricking and tough going.
Day two, we had a favourable wind allowing the 60km approx. fairly flat ride to happen in good time, this then allowed the real challenge of the day to happen, a near 40km up hill ride to Jerash, starting this from -400m below sea level and finishing at plus 1200m, the most physically demanding thing I have every done (by far) but so rewarding.
Day three, a testing day again lots of ups and downs, eventually finishing at low levels on the Jordan valley and a boarder crossing to Neve Eitan, Israel, the late arrival meant a very dark bike ride to our overnight stay at a Kibbutz guest house, we travelled using vehicle lights front and back of group, an interesting experience.
Day four, a mixture of ongoing steady rolling hills, a lot of off road work, followed by a long flat bike ride to the Sea of Galilee, this was the day I was very glad to get off the bike, was hurting a lot, but the following boat trip across the Sea of Galilee made it all worth while.
Day five, a hard day's cycling with lots of ups and downs, long hauls plus short very step pulls. The day finished with all the riders arriving together at our goal the Nazareth Hospital, a very emotional time, being greeted so warmly by not only a local scout’s brass band but many students, Doctors, nurses, staff and directors from the Hospital, truly humbling.
The following day we had a wonderful tour of the hospital, an amazing place. Hearing about this year's sponsorship project being directed towards setting up a Nazareth Hospital School of Nursing Bursary Scheme which will provide for the education, living costs and provisions of resources for students who have the potential to succeed in their studies but whose families simply cannot afford to send them to learn. The scheme will enable talented and intelligent young people from Nazareth and the surrounding villages (including those from Bedouin communities) to attend the School of Nursing, and have the opportunity to avoid the trap of poverty To hear of the continuing work of the hospital and to have been part of this years EMMS charity bike ride has left great memories, the training, the fantastic help from so many people with sponsorship raising, the demanding bike ride itself, the hospital and the new friends that helped and supported each other through what was regarded as perhaps the hardest bike ride taken on by EMMS in the area. So much thanks to everyone.
Present personal sponsorship total £20,495, so pleased. Will be well in to December before final totals, personal and over all bike ride totals will be known. Many people that I have spoken to still intend to sponsor me, I hope they do for the sake of others.
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