One in eight District households is struggling against hunger. Across the country, more than 46 million people live in poverty, and for some Eid al-Adha is the only time that they may receive meat all year long.
Islamic charities are always coming up with creative ways to fundraise money to raise awareness and support about efforts to stop hunger in the DMV. This year, the first Islamic Relief 40 for 40 Qurbani Challenge was held in the nation’s capital on a balmy September morning. Fifteen riders took off from the picturesque Lincoln Memorial at nine in the morning; the ride ended at noon.
“It is the beginning of something new that we are starting for Islamic Relief,” says Naeem Muhammad, the community outreach manager for Islamic Relief USA. “New community service projects that are fun and challenging.”
Velocipede Cycling Club, a DMV Muslim cycling club, co sponsored the event. They led the group of 20 riders across 40 miles across the D.C. metropolitan area on September 20, 2015.
In 2011, overweight and out of shape, Dr Faisal Kamdar started training for a triathlon with fellow Virginian, Tarik Issawi. “We completed the triathlon and [decided] that we wanted to keep up the biking,” he says. They started the Velocipede Cycling Club (VCC).
VCC currently has 20 active members. Most are from Northern Virginia but 4-5 reside in Maryland. “We are primary a road cycling group. We do activities, organize rides for the club and participate in events, such as charity rides, as well as the annual cycling camps.” In Maryland, Fuad Kamal and Saleem Farooqui are regulars in the all men’s club.
The group is segregated; if enough women cyclists organize themselves, Kamdar says that VCC would be happy to facilitate the process to form a sister's section. “There is room for everyone in the club. We try not to be exclusive in anyway,” he says. Muhammad says events like 40 for 40 helped women cyclists meet each other and form bonds.
Some of the cyclists are into competitive racing. “Quality road bikes and paraphernalia can cost about $2000 but once you get started it is well worth the investment,” says Dr Kamdar.
VCC core members planned the course for the 40 for 40 ride. “You need to make sure that the road is safe, the terrain is not too challenging. Rock Creek Park is all of that; it is closed to cars on weekend, is scenic and is not too hilly,” says Kamdar. The VCC rides that route often.
“Whenever we do a ride like this, we have one trained cyclist in the front, one in the back and one in the middle. 40 miles is not a small distance and we have to provide adequate support for cyclists of all skill level,” says Dr Kamdar. A minivan followed the group in case of injury or repair, or if someone just could not finish the ride.
“It was inspiring to see people from the Muslim community that take pride in their hobby and take it so seriously,” says Muhammad. “Their professionalism and how they looked after us during the race was great. We are [finding] people who have all these talents and now we are giving them a bigger purpose to their passion by helping those in need,” adds Muhammad.
“We are trying to bring a culture of community challenges. These charity challenges sprout camaraderie as people overcome some big obstacle as a team and compete to raise awareness for a specific charitable goal. “The 40 for 40 Bike ride was the most grueling one that we have done so far,” says Muhammad. The next challenge planned is the Summit for Syria- where teams will try to summit the tougher trails in Western Virginia.
“[This was a] cool way to celebrate Eid,” said a participant at the event. Several passersby saw the relief group in matching T-shirts and cheered the riders en route.
They came up to the halfway point 20 miles into MD, at at Veirs Mill Park in Wheaton,MD where volunteers were out with food and water. Then the riders returned back to DC.
For every mile, the cycle riders raised money for Udhiyah for locals, hoping to provide a hearty Eid al-Adha to neighbors in need.
“This meat will go to underprivileged families that really need this food,” says Naeem Muhammad, Islamic Relief community outreach manager, “we are doing this in the US, so people know that we must support our neighbors here as well.”
Rolling past Georgetown, the Potomac River and the Kennedy Center, the team were hoping that they would raise the money for all 40 Qurbanis and they made it 20. “It was an awesome and hope this is a reoccurring event,” said a participant.
Islamic Relief local udhiyah distributors are Dar al Hijrah in Falls Church and the Muslim Social Services Agency in Baltimore. Muhammad says that last year was the first time that USA placed in the top 5 for local udhiyah in all the countries that Islamic Relief operates in.
To get in touch with Velocipede email faisalkamdar@gmail.com
To find out more about opportunities to get involved with Islamic Relief email Naeem Muhammad at nmuhammad@irusa.org
Comments powered by CComment