Duo to cycle 300km in desert to raise toys for orphans

Dubai: Two Dubai residents will cycle 300km across the Liwa desert in 24 hours to collect toys for orphans in the UAE and raise awareness about the issues they face.

Russian Olga Zolotova, 26, a trader in sugar, and Lebanese-Canadian Mohammad Khalaf, 29, who is an export manager, will be taking up the challenge on December 29 and 30.

The duo will use desert bicycles with special rims to cycle on a route that will map out the outline of a gift box using a GPS and a cycling app.

“The holidays is a magical time for every child and we want to make it special for each of them by doing the challenge; we want to remind people that every child deserves to find a present under the Christmas tree,” said Zolotova.

The duo is cooperating with Adventure HQ and the Red Crescent, who will provide donation boxes in Dubai’s Time Square Centre and JBR from December 7 to 21. Red Crescent will distribute the toys to orphans once donations are completed.

Preparations

Despite her full-time job (9am till 7pm) at sugar trading company Czarnikow, Zolotova finds the time to challenge herself while supporting different causes. In July, both Zolotova and Khalaf climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania to support the cause of tolerance, freedom of beliefs, and international cooperation.

In October 2015, she cycled 400km across the UAE in 24 hours to raise funds for children’s education in developing countries. Two months later, Zolotova ran 200km in 24 hours starting from Jumeirah Beach, Dubai, and dedicated it to the Children’s Cancer Hospital in Pakistan.

“I am left with very little time to exercise after work, but one of the goals behind this charity challenge is to show people that anyone can do it. Mohammad and me are just normal people who have a full-time job — five days a week — but it doesn’t stop us from doing sport and finding an hour a day to practise. It is all a matter of time management and priorities, we don’t believe in excuses,” said Zolotova.

The athlete, who currently cycles on the road every week, said the desert challenge includes dunes that can be as tall as 400 metres. “This challenge involves physical training in a combination with logistics and very good navigational skills and equipment. We aim to draw the gift box with our track online, which means we need to follow the correct path without any deviations. We only get one shot,” explained Zolotova.

Meanwhile, challenge partner Mohammad Khalaf pointed out the track must be followed regardless of any obstacles they may face in order to create the gift box effect.

“The challenge will be a first for us, and we will be drawing on the map using our bikes and GPS. This means cycling through the desert, up and over sand dunes no matter how huge, long or tough,” he said.

While the track’s distance is no longer than 300km, the challenge will take the duo approximately a day to complete given the harsh landscape they will be cycling on.

Khalaf is training to increase stamina, endurance, and strength by regularly going to the gym as well as playing various sports such as football and basketball, to increase cardiovascular fitness.

“I add some circuit training classes every now and then to keep the cardio fun, but generally, I try to get in a minimum of one-two hours of cardio, seven times a week, and one hour of strength training five times a week,” he said.

Khalaf also cycles on weekends and takes on obstacle challenges occasionally.

“This event means a lot since it means bringing some happiness to those less fortunate children who are getting this support living in orphanages across the UAE, a support only possible by the donations of everyone living here wanting to give back to their communities society,” added Khalaf.

Gulf News also talked to Mohammad Kamal from Red Crescent, who said the toys will be distributed to children of all nationalities who are listed in over 7,000 families registered with the charity in the UAE. Toys will also be sent to three refugee camps in Syria, Iraq, and Yemen.

“Red Crescent is sponsoring the event and issuing them (Zolotova and Khalaf) with the permit, advertisement, and support during the challenge,” he said.

Joining Zolotova in many of her previous challenges, co-sponsor Adventure HQ said it will be providing the duo with two fat bikes (Moolander), along with a cycling kit and repair kit for the challenge.

“We will also have buckets from Emirates Red Crescent in our Adventure Zone in Times Square Centre and Galleria Mall (Dubai) for the people to give toy donations. We will have a special event with the kids from an orphanage, who will collect the toys and enjoy activities for a few hours,” said Alba Arteaga, marketing manager of Adventure HQ.