Cycling challenge to raise funds to buy bikes for southern Jordan Valley residents

AMMAN — The Boost initiative will hold a 100 kilometre cycling race on Friday with the aim of raising funds to enable sports enthusiasts in underprivileged areas in the Jordan Valley to practise their hobby. 

“The 100 Cycling Challenge” will set off at 9:30am from the Baptism Site, 40km west of Amman, and finish at the Museum at the Lowest Place on Earth in Ghor Safi in the Jordan Valley, according to Boost founder Batoul Arnaout. 

“The event also aims at encouraging tourism in the Kingdom because the route of the race passes through areas most people do not know about,” Arnaout told The Jordan Times in a phone interview on Tuesday. 

A part of the proceeds of the event, organised in collaboration with Cycling Jordan, will go to cyclists who cannot afford to buy sports equipment.

“Twenty per cent of the ticket sales and the financial support we received will go to people who cannot afford to buy cycling equipment in the southern Jordan Valley, which includes Ghor Safi, Ghor Mazraa and Ghor Haditha,” she added. 

Arnaout said the ticket price is JD25, covering the fees of the race, drinks and a meal prepared by women in Ghor Safi, and transportation. 

“We rented bicycles for some of the participants who do not have any, while Cycling Jordan will provide bikes for those who cannot afford to rent them,” she noted, noting that 155 cyclists are scheduled to take part in the challenge. 

“Men and women will take part in the event, which will be organised annually starting from this year,” Arnaout said.