Mumbai: Four city-based bikers are all set to begin a 60-day motorcycle ride from Mumbai to London to create awareness about organ donation. The quartet will begin their 25,000-km journey that will take them through 14 countries on May 10.
In 2016, Dr. Rajaram Sonagra, Rajiv Patel, Karthic Velandai and Mukesh Arora rode through Thailand and Myanmar as part of a similar awareness programme. This time, their journey will begin in Bangkok, continue through Laos and China. They will also ride along the Trans-Siberian Highway, said to be the longest national highway in the world. The group will also be riding to Nordkapp, the northernmost point on the planet where the highway terminates.
They will also be covering Denmark, Belgium, The Netherlands, Germany, France and enter the U.K. via the Chunnel, they will be entering the United Kingdom. A crane will be used to transport them through the Chunnel, that passes under the English Channel and connects England with France. The bikers will carry placards and banners on organ donation.
The main challenges for organ donation are myths surrounding it and the lack of awareness in society, Dr. Sonagra said. “People think their body parts should not go to someone else.” He said the lack of proper infrastructure in India was another reason, and only metro cities like Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata have the necessary infrastructure. “In Sweden and Finland, there is a compulsion for every individual to be an organ donor. There are no such laws in India.”
Mr. Patel said they had approached two prominent city hospitals for help in spreading the message. “We had contacted hospitals to support our cause and sponsor us, but they wanted us to tour India. Given the extreme temperatures in India at present, it was impossible to do so.”
During their journey, they will be riding nearly 500 km per day, and arrangements for accommodation en route will be made based on their location. the will also be updating their progress regularly on their website, www.eurasiaodyssey.com.
And as they gear up to set out for London, they already have their next trip planned for 2018 with the motto ‘Recycle Life! Be an Organ Donor’. The destination: South America.
