Local charity Haiti Hospital Appeal is celebrating 5 years of providing physical rehab with a hand-cycle relay (hand-cycles provided!) on June 25 – 28
This month we interviewed Downton Abbey’s Laura Carmichael and local charity founder Carwyn Hill about the Haiti Hospital Appeal, a charity that’s been changing lives for the better in Haiti for almost a decade.
Though they provide a variety of vital services, the Croydon-based charity has been providing life-changing rehabilitation since the 2010 earthquake. These are all too vital after the many disabling injuries it inflicted, and they’re now the national referral centre for spinal cord injuries in Haiti.
In our interview, Carwyn also told us about the work they do improving social attitudes toward disability, with the help of those like paralympian Anne Strike MBE.
Now the Hospital Appeal is starting its next big fund-raising effort - Cycle of Change.
It’s an impressive idea, a hand-bike relay from the UK to Switzerland, home of their partners in the Swiss Paraplegic Foundation and host of this year’s Para-Cycling World Championships, where it’s entirely possible that one of the Appeal’s former patients could be taking part.
This first leg is UK-only, from Bromley to Folkestone, a 66-mile route that will start the journey, raise vital funds, and celebrate the impact of hand-cycling on disabled sports.
You don’t need your own hand-cycle - they’ll be provided, and there will even be a taster session beforehand to give everyone some practice-time before the actual relay.
You and other volunteers will be assembled into a team of 4 – 7 riders (one whom may be a certain Team GB paralympian…) who’ll support each other throughout the relay - or you can create your own team! You’ll receive all the support you need, including drinks throughout the event, vehicles to transport resting members, and return transport to Bromley.
All you need to give is your time and effort - both racing and fundraising. You're unlikely to find many worthier causes this summer.
You can sign up and learn more online
Contact the Haiti Hospital Appeal for details on 0208 462 5256 or tim@haitihospitalappeal.org
Follow them on @haitihospitalap
