Hestia cycle challenge 

In November, Hestia CEO Patrick Ryan will take part in the Hestia Cycle Challenge. He will be cycling through Vietnam to raise money for children living in our Domestic Abuse refuges.

The Hestia Cycle Challenge begins on November 1^st 2017 when Patrick and the other cyclists land in Hanoi, the bustling capital in northern Vietnam. An estimated 7.5 million people wake up each day in the city with the most common form of transport being the motorbike.

Hanoi

The first leg of the journey in the Hestia Cycle Challenge begins with the group cycling 149km west to Mai Chau. Uphill peddling and winding narrow roads will make this the most difficult part of their journey.

The cyclists will use their months of extensive training to manage the intense difficulty in the mountainous area.

After a night in Mai Chau, the group begin their cycle to Halong Bay – an estimated distance of 300km. Located on Vietnam’s east coast, the cyclists will see the towering islets dotted in the Gulf of Tonkin.

In 1994, Halong Bay was made a World Heritage site due to its spectacular beauty.

From Halong Bay, the group will cycle south to Ninh Binh – a total distance of 200km. The Red River Delta is known for its green valets, karst mountains, hiking trails and many mountains.

Ho Chi Minh City

The group return to Hanoi for a quick rest before travelling to Ho Chi Minh City. Formally known as Saigon until 1976 the city is now commonly referred to as the Pearl of the Far East.

The Mekong Delta located in the south-west region of Vietnam. The terrain here will become quite flat for the cyclists, however Mekong is made up of rivers and water channels. This will make the pace slower as the group manoeuvre their bikes and equipment over wet ground.

The trip concludes with a visit Go Vap Orphanage in Ho Chi Minh City. Facilitated by KidsWithNoBorders.org, the orphanage houses approximately 240 children from new born babies to 17-year-olds.

Donations raised by the group will be split between Hestia and Go Vap Orphanage where the money will support medical costs of the children and provide the chance for a happy childhood.