An initiative as part of ‘Mission 100’ to bag 100 medals at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, by Hyderabad based Aditya Mehta Foundation & Indo-Tibetan Border Police

To promote awareness about para-sports and support fund raising initiatives, Infinity ride 2019 was organised by Aditya Mehta Foundation (AMF) and Indo-Tibetan Border Police, from 16th to 23rd August, from Dehradun to Mana pass (18,478 ft), the new highest motorable road in the world. Fifteen para-cyclists along with 25 able – bodied cyclists traveled the distance. The event saw participation from fundraising riders, worldwide and National para-cyclists who have won medals in the Para-Asian Championships and Asian Games like Gurlal Singh and Harinder Singh, both of whom have won medals inspite of having lost limbs in the line of duty.

The riders rode tough terrains filled with heavy rain landslides, and steep upslopes with great enthusiasm. Kaigoulal a para athlete rode with one leg, without his prosthetic limb. Some para-athletes even developed cuts in stumps due to friction from sockets from riding.

This initiative will boost ‘Mission 100’ which is Aditya Mehta Foundation’s aim to bag 100 medals at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics. One of the key elements of the initiative is scouting and coaching of talented para athletes who can represent India at a global arena. Till date, AMF supported 180 para-athletes and they brought home 85 international medals. AMF counsels and trains people with disability professionally to take up sports, especially those who’ve lost their limbs in the line of duty as well as civilians.

Speaking about the initiative, Aditya Mehta, Founder, AMF said, “As an NGO, we fund our operations primarily from donations. The Infinity Ride is our signature fund raising event for each year. We built a team of riders who as fund raisers for the Foundation, this time they embarked on a cycle ride from Dehradun to Mana Pass. The riders, while experiencing an adventure that sticks with them for a lifetime,  raised funds for the Foundation by using their contacts and social media presence, along with other creative initiatives.”

Since 2015, the Infinity Ride was successfully conducted from Bangalore to Hyderabad, Manali to Khardung La, Hyderabad to Tirupati, and from Shimla to Manali. The funds raised were vital in ensuring the continuity of our Foundation and its work, he adds.