What better way to celebrate the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Devji, founder of Sikhism, than to give back to society?
A group of 17 Malaysian Sikh bikers from the Santana Riderz Malaysia Club will be doing just that when they embark on a 16,000 km journey from Malaysia to Pakistan to raise funds for children with cancer.
Spanning almost 40 days, the expedition will pass through five countries. It is slated to flag off early morning of September 25, from the 121-year-old Gurdwara Sahib Polis at Jalan Balai Polis in Kuala Lumpur. The bikers will ride through Thailand, Myanmar and India before concluding the ride in Nankana Sahib in Pakistan, the birth place of Guru Nanak.
Their long adventure is in aid of paediatric cancer patients of the National Cancer Society of Malaysia (NCSM).
Club president Jas Pall Singh told Malaysian media that this would be their longest ever charity ride. “We hope we’ll be able to ease the hardship of families who are suffering both emotionally and financially.”
NCSM was chosen as the beneficiary of the expedition as the club aims to help children, regardless of race, religion and background. “That’s in line with the theme of our ride, ‘Sarbat Da Bhala,’ which means blessings for everyone, regardless of race or religion,” Singh added.
Apart from the fundraising efforts, the Santana Riderz Malaysia Club also has a “550 Trees Planting project” in various places leading up to Guru Nanak’s birth anniversary.
Established in 1979, the 46-member non-profit organisation has been actively organising charitable programmes for underprivileged communities all over Malaysia through their riding events.