From Land’s End to Lowestoft in a rickshaw for charity (From Watford Observer)

From Land’s End to Lowestoft in a rickshaw for charity

8:41am Wednesday 17th June 2009 in Charity Check

From Land’s End to Lowestoft in a rickshaw for Indian charity

A young fundraiser from Radlett will be making history this summer, by being the first to pedal a rickshaw from Britain’s most westerly point to Britain’s most easterly point.

Simon Etkind, 24, of Thelusson Court, will be cycling from Land’s End in Cornwall to Lowestoft in Suffolk. Together with girlfriend Lianna Hulbert, he aims to set a record by cycling 1500 kilometres (932 miles) in just 24 days.

This remarkable rickshaw ride will raise money for UK-based development charity Action Village India (AVI). AVI supports six partner organisations across India that between them offer training and support to over 300 self-help groups. These community groups benefit the poorest and most disadvantaged members of Indian society.

The couple, who are getting married later this year, are looking forward to the challenge. It will definitely be a team effort, saaid Simon: “One person will pedal, while the other will do the map reading. We’ll swap every hour or so, so both of us get a chance to put our feet up.”

Simon, who is graduating as a doctor in June, added: “Rickshaws are not too hard to pedal on the flat, but going uphill is really tough! Many people do sponsored cycle rides – we thought we’d be a bit different and highlight the Indian connection by using a cycle rickshaw. It certainly won’t be easy, but we hope that it will raise money to enable people in India to lift themselves out of poverty. Rickshaws are a common sight in North India, but we expect our EcoChariot rickshaw to cause quite a stir in the English countryside.”

"One of our practice rickshaw rides was from East London to Radlett. The wonderful Hertfordshire scenery really whetted my appetite for the journey, but the hill up from Elstree was quite a challenge!"

Simon, who attended Watford School for Boys, visited one of AVI’s projects five years ago.

He said: “For us, pedalling a rickshaw is an amazing way to spend a month together on the open road, journeying and camping across southern England. But in India pedalling a rickshaw is a hard earned living. It’s the knowledge that what we're doing might help lift some people out of poverty that will keep me going as I pant and sweat towards the finish line.”

Anyone wishing to sponsor the pair can contact Action Village India on 020 7247 6406.