Malaysian teen with autism raises RM125,000 through cycling

Uzair pedals his way to success, proving that determination knows no bounds. Photos: Munirah Hanim Ahmad Jahudi

When homemaker Munirah Hanim Ahmad Jahudi and her husband introduced their son Ahmad Uzair to cycling six years ago, they never thought he would shine in the sport.

Sixteen-year-old Ahmad Uzair, who has autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), gained entry into the 2021 Malaysia Book of Records for being the country’s youngest randonneur. He was 12 when he completed the feat.

“It all began in 2018 when my husband wanted to shed some weight by cycling around our neighbourhood, often taking our four children along, including Uzair,” said Munirah, 42, during an interview in Bukit Jelutong, Selangor recently.

Ahmad Syauqi and Munirah are his biggest supporters.“Bit by bit, my husband increased his mileage as he grew stronger. Surprisingly, Uzair was the only one who could keep up. We started looking for cycling events to join, and our first was a 40km fun ride in Petaling Jaya.

“However, that distance wasn’t sufficient for my son with special needs. That’s when we discovered Audax Randonneurs Malaysia (ARM), which suited us best. Uzair’s longest distance to date is 1,000km in 75 hours, and we believe he’s ready for more,” she shared.

Randonneuring is a non-competitive long-distance cycling sport governed by the Audax Club Parisien (ACP) in Paris. To gain the Super Randonneur title, a cyclist must complete a series of events called Brevet de Randonneurs Mondiaux (BRM).

To achieve this title, Uzair completed the BRM200 (a 200km event) within 13.5 hours, the BRM300 in 20 hours, the BRM400 in 27 hours and the BRM600 in 40 hours. In Malaysia, these events are organised by ARM.

With the right guidance and support, Uzair has achieved inspiring milestones.

Munirah is delighted to have found a sport her son enjoys, emphasising how cycling has helped Uzair overcome common behavioural challenges associated with autism.

Uzair, who is non-verbal, was diagnosed with autism at the age of three.

“It is said that exercise increases opportunities for social interaction and improves social motivation and communication, especially for children with autism.

“Being the only kid to consistently join ARM events has made him somewhat of a ‘celebrity’ in the cycling community. Many people approach and interact with him, which has greatly improved his social interactions. Additionally, he is noticeably calmer, sleeps better and follows instructions more effectively in all aspects of our daily life.”

Cycling has helped Uzair overcome common behavioural challenges associated with autism.Uzair strives to cycle about 200km weekly, whether on Saturday mornings with his grandfather, Tuesday nights with a group in Shah Alam, or occasionally with his older brother around the neighbourhood.

“What’s special about his bike is that initially, he couldn’t change gears on his own. We then customised it with a wireless gear-shifter controlled remotely by his dad. Last year, we achieved a major milestone when he learned to change gears, prompted by his father,” Munirah shared.

In addition to regular rides, Munirah and her husband – pilot Ahmad Syauqi Ahmad Said, 42 – also incorporate hill climbing training to prepare for upcoming events.

“When we first joined the Audax events though, my husband and I would recce the route by car to determine the stretches of long climbs, dangerous junctions and find the most suitable restaurants and petrol stations to recharge and refuel. Over time, our confidence grew, and now we simply rely on Google Maps for route verification,” said Munirah.

They frequently cycle routes such as Sepang (Salangor) to Port Dickson (Negri Sembilan) and back; Simpang Pulai (Perak) to Cameron Highlands (Pahang); and others in the Klang Valley.

Plans are in motion to register Uzair for the 1,200km Paris-Brest-Paris (PBP) cycling race in 2027, the world’s oldest cycling event held once every four years. The challenging journey from Paris to Brest and back must be completed within 90 hours.

Uzair, who was named the youngest randonneur in 2021, and his biggest supporters Munirah and Ahmad Syauqi.

For a good cause

With Uzair’s passion for cycling, his parents have found a way to raise funds for charity, particularly for autism. People donate money for each kilometre that he cycles.

In 2019, he raised RM25,000 for the Autism Cafe Project, a cafe in Kota Damansara managed by individuals with autism. Two years ago, he went on to raise RM100,000 for the National Autism Society of Malaysia (Nasom) with the support of FWD Takaful.

“We were really touched by the number of people who got involved and pledged to support us. For donations for ACP, we kept it open ended and allowed the donor to set the amount they wanted to pledge for each kilometre Uzair cycled for that particular month. Perhaps they underestimated the distances Uzair could achieve!

“We’ve just been contacted by ACP. We’ve heard that they are planning to move to a new premise and therefore need some funding. We are definitely interested in helping out however we can,” said Munirah, who uploads photos of Uzair’s progress on Instagram.

Uzair started cycling long distance with his dad Ahmad Syauqi in 2018.Munirah emphasises the importance of helping children with autism channel their energy constructively, a strategy that benefits both the child and the entire family, particularly if ADHD is also present.

“There’s always hope for a child as long as parents remain committed. Even small interests and daily pleasures significantly improve a child’s life. Small victories count, and we should strive to ensure each day is better than the last.”

She added that it is important for parents to identify the interests of their kids with special needs and guide them.

“Early intervention programmes and therapy sessions help, but only for a few hours a day. Parents need to expose their child to different experiences to find their interests and strengths. Supporting any child is a shared journey, especially with an autistic child.

“Understanding an autistic child comes best from a parent or close caregiver. If parents want to follow a similar path, they need to be fully committed because the drive comes entirely from them.”