An 850-km cycle ride from Kasaragod to the city over four days to create awareness of autism concluded at Manaveeyam Veedhi here on Sunday evening.
The ride by Muhamed Musadiq and Gopi Krishnan, students of the College of Engineering, Thiruvananthapuram, covered 12 districts and was aimed at spreading the message that autism is not a disease. It was organised by the Autism Club, the CET Cycling Club, and the Indus Cycling Embassy.
Actor Sudhir Karamana who inaugurated the function said, “We should learn to think like they do when interacting with autisic children,” he said.
Folk song
He took part in a folk song sung by members of the Manaveeyam Theruvorakkoottam and felicitated the two cyclists.
Recounting their ride, Musadiq and Gopi said it was a memorable experience. The duo did not stick to the highway, instead taking the Wayanand-Nilambut-Thrissur-Alappuzha beach road to spread their message among maximum number of people. “The talents of autistic children should be acknowledged and society should try to promote these,” they said.
The CET Cyling Club had resolved that a long ride conducted by them would be for a cause, and this had prompted them to take part in the autism awareness drive, the duo said.
Programmes by autisic children were held on the occasion, as also a photo exhibition by the Moto Marshals, a collective of motorcyclists.
