Cycling for HYT

     Yesterday 15 HYT volunteers and workers completed a bike race starting at our 1V4 project cycling through the Kamuli district to each of our current HYT and Rotary sites, finishing back at Makoka Primary.
Workers from all of our projects travelled to Makoka to participate in the race and the support and encouragement shown by the schools and by the villagers was astounding.

       The race started in the blistering heat at Makoka primary school, with 2 groups split into junior and senior sections setting off at different intervals. After much anticipation the flag went down and the race began; without any real knowledge of how far we were going or how long it would take!

Start line for the race

      Thankfully we had plenty of knowledgeable HYT workers to follow and we started by cycling to the first checkpoint at Bulopa and then on to one of our sites at St Kaloli. From here we travelled around to Namaganda Primary school and the all the way back up to Makoka Primary for the finish. Sadly we had no way of measuring the exact distance of the route; all we can say is that we thought that the gruelling hills would never end, especially when the rain started coming down!

Battling through the rain

     We passed through many villages during the race and the villagers and children were all out in force cheering and waving. The support was invaluable in providing encouragement for the participants and boosting morale and confidence.

 

Relieved to have made it!

         The day ended with a ceremony to award all HYT workers with new t-shirts displaying the logo of Rotary international who we are currently working with for many projects.