Early risers and morning joggers alongside the ECR are used to a fluorescent inexperienced helmet gliding down day-after-day at 4am. Sporting it’s Priya D, a member of WCCG (Chennai Biking Group began by Divagaran Thiyagarajan), who cycles each morning down that stretch to the music of Sia’s ‘Unstoppable’ taking part in from the speaker hooked up to the cycle. Of late, the bicycle owner is extra decided to place in further kilometres as she trains for the Chennai Cyclists Aalam Deepam Duathlon organised by Aalam, the philanthropic wing of WCCG. . 

Identical to Priya there are a variety of different lovers throughout the town and India who’re gearing up for the fourth version of this fundraiser. The proceeds  will go in direction of the People of Biking initiative, began by WCCG through the pandemic in 2020, the place cycles are given to these from deprived sections of society.

“Folks have been strolling lengthy distances to get to their workplaces. In lots of instances, the only real breadwinner of the household couldn’t go to work as a result of there was no transport and because of this they didn’t receives a commission. This included women and men who labored as home assist, milkmen, cooks, cobblers, school college students who had half time jobs and so forth. So we began this initiative to make them cell. It additionally helps them get monetary savings on transport prices and has well being advantages.We wish to be certain extra individuals use non-motorised transport because it’s atmosphere pleasant,” says Priya.

Beneficiaries are recognized by a staff who resolve if they’re eligible after visiting them. The duathlon in its first and second editions raised funds for its different social initiatives. The final one was devoted to the People of Biking. Up to now, the group has managed to offer cycles to 150-plus individuals.

The Alam Deepam Duathlon contains biking and working. It’s a digital occasion and can happen between April 1 and 9. Anybody from any a part of the world can take part. There are 5 totally different classes primarily based on expertise: 5 kilometre stroll/run adopted by a 20-kilometre experience; the Olympic class is a 10-kilometre run adopted by a 40-kilometre experience; there may be even a class that youngsters can take part in, which is 2 kilometres stroll and 5 kilometre experience. “One can do it as a person or staff rally. The one stipulation is all individuals have to have a Strava ID,” explains Priya. Those that compete the problem win a medal and a T-shirt.

“The ten-kilometre run isn’t any joke,” says Priya including that for a bicycle owner, the run is just not straightforward. In order that they practise strolling 40 kilometres and using 400 kilometres in a month. Varied using and working teams from throughout India wish to take part on this problem. The final version had over 850 individuals. This yr the occasion is focusing on a bigger participation and goals to gather sufficient funds to sponsor at the least 200 bicycles.

The registration price begins at ₹549 per head and varies relying on the class. For particulars, go online to www.chennaicyclists.com