Sunday August 12, 2012
Highs and lows of Hong’s trip
By LIM WEY WEN
wwen@thestar.com.my
PETALING JAYA: Jacky Hong Fan Hoe would have died on the slopes of a mountain in China if not for a kind local who spotted him in time and rushed him down the snow-covered peaks in a van.
Hong, 35, who recently completed his 18,000km journey from Kuala Lumpur to London on a bicycle in time for the Olympics, recalled the harrowing experience during his leg in China, when he was atop one of the mountains between the Qinghai Lake and Qilian.
“I felt fine when I was cycling up, but when I reached the top (4,101m above sea level), extreme cold hit me.
Dream come true: Hong says the journey is a gift to his daughter. “I was too cold to move. Luckily, a small van was passing by and the driver, who noticed that I was struggling, drove me down the mountain,” said Hong, who started his cycling expedition last Valentine's Day.
He embarked on the journey as a gift to his eight-month-old daughter and would be returning home to Malaysia today.
His adventure was the first leg of the Journey Riding on our Dreams campaign, an ongoing corporate social responsibility programme started by Sphere, the events arm of events and exhibition company Radius Group.
The programme provides a platform for individuals who believe in their dreams and want to be an inspiration to others.
Despite his parents' initial disquiet and the harsh conditions along the way, Hong arrived in London on July 26 after 165 days on the road.
Parts of the travel, he said, were extremely challenging, but the feeling of despair faded away when he received an e-mail from his wife together with photos of his daughter.
He added that he had decided to embark on the journey when his wife was pregnant with their first child.
“I wanted to give my children a message that anything is possible and to give them more confidence,” he said.
Besides fulfilling his dream, Hong also aimed to raise RM168,000 for the MAA-Medicare Kidney Charity Fund.
For those who want to donate, more information can be obtained at http://www.maa-medicare.com.my/upcomingevents.aspx
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