Wheels of Healing

The Project in connection with Thalassemia is the signature project of Rotaract Club of Kandy under the avenue of community service for the past 13 years and this time we took it to another level as we cycled from the East Coast to the West Coast of Sri Lanka while creating awareness about this deadly decease as well as raising a fund to support the children affected with it.  The project was held from 20th of April to 24th of April 2016. The project was chaired by Rtr.Ravindra Tammita and the assistant project chair was Rtr.Gajanatha Kobbekaduwa.
The project plan was laid two months priory where the project executive committee met and laid the ground plans. The first step was to obtain permission and inform the following parties.

 
1. Parent Rotary Club
2. District Governor
3. Ministry of Defense
4. Ministry of Health
5. Ministry of Law and Order and Southern Development
6. Ministry of Education
7. National Thalassemia Centre

Soon after the above parties granted approval the necessary resources were acquired through,
1. Sri Lanka Army – To arrange Meals and Accommodation
2. Sri Lanka Police – To arrange the police escort
3. Ministry of Health – To Arrange the Ambulance
4. Lumala – Bicycle Sponsor
Volunteers were then called to join the event as well.
The Project chair completed a pilot trip on the 11th of April going on the exact route we were planning to take while meeting the Army Officers, Rotarians and Police Officers in order to finalize things.
The team left for Batticaloa on 19th April 2016 afternoon and prepared for the project. The Project Kicked off on the 20th and the route plan and the cities covered are as follows.

On 20th April We pedaled almost 123km while covering the cities of Batticaloa, Kaththankudi, Kalawanchikudi, Kalmunei,Samanthurei and Ampara.

On 21st April We pedaled almost 90km from Siyambalanduwa to Badulla,while covering the cities of Siyambalanduwa, Monaragala, Dombawela, Nakkala, Badalkumbura and Passara.

On 22nd April We pedaled almost 54km from Badulla to NuwaraEliya,while covering the cities of Badulla, Hali Ela,Ettampitiya,Welimada and Keppetipola

On 23rd April We pedaled almost 80km from NuwaraEliya to Kandy while covering the cities of  NuwaraEliya, Ramboda, Thawalantenna, Pussellawa, Gampola,GeliOya, Peradeniya

On the Last DayWe pedaled from Kandy to Colombo, almost 120km while covering the cities of Pilimathalawa, Kadugannawa, Mawanella, Kegalle, Warakapola, Nittambuwa, Yakkala, Kadawatha, Kiribathgoda

Publicity for the event was given through social media, printed media (Daily News and Vijaya) and electronic media partners Derana, ITN, Rupavahini, Hiru and Sirasa.
On the route following Rotary Clubs joined our bicycle ride; Rotary Clubs of Batticaloa, Kalmunei, Badulla, Bandarawela, Nuwara-Eliya and Kandy.
The Rotaract clubs of Badulla, Nuwara-Eliya, University of Peradeniya, Centenial United, Colombo Uptown joined with us on route.
 

The Project covered 5 Provinces, 9 Districts and over 30 major cities with the population over 3 million Sri Lankans. The Meals, Accommodation, Ambulance Service and Police escorts were all arranged in an excellent manner due to good coordination of the organizing committee.
We received kind Rotary donations from the Rotary Clubs of Batticaloa, Kalmunei, Badulla, Bandarawela, NuwaraEliya, Gampola, Kandy, Katugastota, Kegalle, Colombo Centinial.
Rotaract Club of Kandy has become one of the most outstanding Rotaract Clubs in the Rotaract District 3320. Therefore it is honored to state that this dynamic club will keep up to its high standards in offering much more to the nation, society and to the Rotaract movement as a whole. Setting new standards and creating new trends has never been a new experience for Kandy Rotaractors as our club has always maintained high ideals and qualities throughout its history. All of these are the ingredients that has allowed Rotaract Club of Kandy to withstand the winds of change and continue into the never ending future with passion for service to world and society.