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For Immediate Release

CYCLISTS COMPLETE MARATHON RIDE FOR TIBETAN HEALTH
Sept 5, 2001

Five cyclists completed a marathon 593 km ride on the Tibetan plateau, crossing five passes with an average height of over 4200 meters above sea level. The ride was undertaken with the goal of highlighting the need for international aid to improve medical care in this impoverished area of western China.

The ride was organized by Kham Aid Foundation (www.khamaid.org) in partnership with International SOS (www.internationalsos.com).

The ride started on August 19, 2001 and lasted nine days. On three days the cyclists logged more than 100 km distance. The team of four men and one woman started at Tseto La (Zeduo Shan) in Kangding County, western Sichuan. From there they bicycled to the seat of Dege county at the border with Tibet Autonomous Region, passing through five counties of predominantly Tibetan ethnic make-up.

The highest pass crossed was Tro La (Qiao'er Shan) at 5050 meters. One of the riders, Martin Dunphy, said, "I felt like I was on top of the world - incredible that such a sparsely populated place could be in China."

During their journey, the team stopped at medical clinics in remote villages and pasturelands. They conducted interviews to find out about the obstacles facing doctors caring for rural Tibetan populations. The team gave away ten emergency medical kits as a first step towards improving available medical care.

The team’s goal is to raise US$100,000 in cash, training, and in-kind donations for the people of Kham. At this time, cash donations are still coming in. International SOS has already provided or pledged US$13,000 worth of training and equipment. The company’s Beijing office is also stockpiling donated school equipment, computers, and clothes for later transfer to the people of western Sichuan. Kham Aid and ISOS both feel strongly that education is a key component of any aid program, and they are soliciting support for schools in Kham.

In their visits to rural clinics, the team learned that conditions vary widely from one facility to the next, depending largely on the remoteness of the area, and also on the effectiveness of the clinic director. Some clinics lack basic necessities such as electricity to operate lights, sterilizing equipment, and ultrasound probes. Many doctors are demoralized by low wages (US$110/month), poor facilities, and the difficult living conditions on the Tibetan plateau.

Funds raised by the cyclists will be used to address some of the most acute needs of the clinics, for example a refrigerator for vaccine storage at a clinic in Tagong, and a generator for Manigango. One of the cyclists, Dr. Bruce Beattie, said, "The existing clinics are a basis to start from, but certainly there is room for improvement."

Cyclist (and expert chef) Martin Dunphy is arranging a gala dinner for October 13, 2001, in Beijing, to raise more funds for the region see contact information at bottom.

Next year Kham Aid Foundation will organize a larger ride, with twelve cyclists. Next year's riders will be asked to find sponsors to pledge donations for every kilometer cycled. The itinerary will include visits to at a major Tibetan festival, overnighting in a Buddhist monastery, camping in a nature reserve, and a visit to the Dege Printing House, treasure-house of Tibetan culture. It will pass through three areas renowned for their stupendous traditional Tibetan architecture.

Kham Aid Foundation president Pamela Logan, who was one of the cyclists, said, "The route we took gave everyone a look at some really fantastic Tibetan areas, places way off the beaten track for tourists. But it was a darn hard ride. Anyone trying to bike in Tibet needs to be in really good shape."

This year's cyclists were

Pamela Logan (USA), Kham Aid Foundation president, trip logistics, California, USA pam@khamaid.org, tel 1 626 499-7505, fax 1 213 489-7686

Martin Dunphy (Ireland), ISOS [China] Marketing Director, Beijing, China.

David Oliver (New Zealand), publicity, Beijing, China.

Bruce Beattie (Australia), trip doctor.

James Law (New Zealand), fund raising, Hong Kong.