Women in Need (WIN) has come together with UK based volunteer group 'Riders for Charity' to organize a 400  kilometres  cycling challenge from Seeduwa to Batticaloa. The project is to raise awareness and a  much needed  Rs. 2.1 million for the purpose of implementing a  Results Based  Management (RBM) System that will help WIN modernize its operations and bring the organization in-line with mandatory operational guidelines dictated by the United Nations.

30 cyclists both male and female will take up the challenge on Thursday 28th March from Seeduwa and reach Batticaloa on Sunday, March 3rd.

“Once established, the Result Based Management system will help us improve organizational accountability, monitoring and general operating procedures. This in turn will immensely benefit the women we seek to help escape from all forms of violence. On behalf of WIN and all the women we support, I would like to offer my gratitude to Riders for charity for their help and goodwill,”

commented Executive Director of Women In Need, SavithriWijesekera. 

A local, non-profit and non-governmental organization, Women In Need is Sri Lanka’s leading organizations committed to the elimination of all forms of violence against women and girls. For the last 30 years, Women In Need has been fighting for gender equality and standing up for human rights for women and girls by campaigning for a violence free society.

‘Riders for Charity is a volunteer group of cyclists primarily made up of old boys of S Thomas College, Mount Lavinia Batch of '86. Aiming to reach out to a wider audience to not only raise funds but also awareness of the need to address violence against women, the group will cover a wide expanse of the western and the north western, north central and eastern regions of Sri Lanka. The bike ride will start on February 28 from Seeduwa and pause in Puttalam on the same day. On March 1, the riders plan to traverse from Putalam to Anuradhapura. On March 2, the group will travel from Anuradhapura to Polonaruwa and reach Batticaloa on 3rd March. 

“We are very excited to be working with Women In Need this year, not only to raise funds but to help raise awareness for violence against women. As men, we are very proud and honoured to be able to support Women InNeedby doing what we are passionate about, which is cycling.”

said Gerald Simon, the founder of Riders for Charity.

Interested individuals can donate to the cause by visiting http://ridersforcharity.org/donations/ or join the riders on their journey. 

A number of corporate and leisure partners have come up to sponsor Riders for charity. The sponsors are namely; InfoMC, Virtusa, Hangover Hostels, Olcote in Ceylon, Deer Park Polonnaruwa, Nail Spa LK, Palm Garden Village Anuradhapura and The Cove, Paasikudah, Sujeeva and Friends.