26-yr-old pedals for cancer awareness in the Himalayas

The fashion designer takes out time during her race passing out literature on breast cancer among women in rural areas

Fashion designer Jaskeerat Bedi rides a bike through the treacherous terrain of Himachal Pradesh to drive home the messageagainst breast cancer. The 26-year-old from Delhi is one of the participants in the ninth edition of the six-day MTB Himalaya-2013, one of the world’s toughest mountain biking events.

Pedalling for a cause: Jaskeerat Bedi says her aim is not to win but spread knowledge on fighting breast cancer. Pic/IANS

According to Mohit Sood, president of the Himalayan Adventure Sports and Tourism Promotion Association -- the Shimla-based club organising the rally -- Jaskeerat is the first participant to spread awareness about the deadly disease.

“I am participating in the event for the first time. The focus is not on retaining any title but to spread awareness about breast cancer, one of the most common malignancies in women in this state,” said Jaskeerat.

The rally, comprising 70 intrepid cyclists, was flagged off from Shimla on Saturday. After passing through Mashobra, Kufri, Matiana, Narkanda, Hatu, Baghi, Khadrala, Tikkar and then again to Narkanda, it would culminate in the state capital today
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For Bedi, participating in the rally means conveying a messagedirectly to the womenfolk, especially in rural areas, “Don’t get shy and confined, defeat the myth that it (breast cancer) is notcurable.”

Spreading the word
“When other rallyists are resting after completing every leg, I prefer to meet the locals,” says Bedi, who is representing Delhi-based Forum for Breast Cancer Protection. She is carrying literature and pamphlets for sensitising the people.u00a0Portuguese bikers Luis Leao Pinto, the Titan desert MTB Marathon champion and ninth in world rankings, and Ricardo Rodrigues Martins, ranked 16th in the world, are among the 16 foreign participants from nine countries in the rally. The highest point of the rally is the 3,400-metre Hatu peak, overlooking the tourist destination of Narkanda.

70 km
Average distance each cyclist has to pedal during the race

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