Sometime during June, we started raising funds for a social cause, a team activity that would bring businesses and professionals closer cycling for a cause. Team Biruwa raised Rs 50,000 for Kathmandu Kora Cycling Challenge using crowd funding website gofundme.com. Kathmandu KORA is an annual event where teams travel 50 KMs around the outskirts of Kathmandu and raise funds from donors on each kilometer traveled. This year, KORA attracted over 300 participants and raised around 1 million rupees (10 Lakh) from donors all over the world. The funds that were raised is going to be spent in Rukum to provide a better birthing facility.

Biruwa’s role in helping people in Rukum did not just end after the fund raising and cycling event. Thanks to all our donors, contributors and Save the Children Nepal, Team Biruwa raised a significant amount and will be traveling to Rukum next week to deliver basic equipments and do a feasibility study. Along with five other riders, a representative from Social Tours and a representative from Save the Children Nepal, I will be representing Team Biruwa, where we will deliver a checklist of items requested by the District Health Officer and understand where else can we utilize the funds to establish a sustainable and effective health post.

From our assumptions, access to health services in remote Nepal is tough. Furthermore, people are hesitant to come to an existing health post and utilize its services. During our stay, we will be interviewing locals and figuring out if our assumptions are correct and what can be done to spread awareness on the benefits of using health services. Project Rukum will be an ongoing effort and a very rewarding experience if we can make a positive impact. Not only will it help people over in Rukum, but it will empower all our donors. Most of the fund raised by KORA was from a big pool of donors who thought even their smallest contribution would make a big difference, and our

Rukum team is here to prove that the funds can and will have a positive impact that can be replicated in other areas.

Here is the itinerary for the trip,
I will provide more updates after the trip.

16 December:
SocialTours fly to Nepalgunj to purchase the required materials

17th December:
Cyclists fly to Nepalgunj by last flight (night stay in Nepalgunj). Briefing about the visit and other logistics by Social Tours

18th December:
6am – drive to Simrato, Rukum (11 hours from Nepalgunj)

19th December:
Visit health post/birthing center. Interaction with communities,health workers. Plan and action for renovation of the health center20th December: Handover ceremony. Visit District Health Office- interact with officials and understand the health facilities and existing situation in the district21st December: Group activities in Health center. Get to know more birthing center in the district