This archive report was first published on 31 July 2019.
On June 10, 2019, Mohamed Zahir, Osman Idrissa, Mohammed Salim, and Anwar Mansur set out on a remarkable journey to Mecca, a 3,372km cycling trip from Nairobi to Saudi Arabia.
The team, known as the 'Pedal to Hajj team,' aimed to raise Sh5 million for the construction of Al Furqan Tower, a commercial building whose revenue would be donated to needy children at Al Furqan Institute.
However, their journey was not without its challenges. They cycled through Sudan at a time when the country was in political turmoil, and the quartet kept track of their kilometres travelled but struggled to maintain contact with their communication team back home due to lack of Internet connectivity.
After a few days of falling off the grid, their communication team finally reported on July 5 that they were safe, with the Sudanese ruling military council and the opposition coalition having reached an agreement to share power before holding elections.
The team faced numerous obstacles, including sandstorms and a tough terrain in Sudan. Team leader Zahir injured his knee and had blisters that resulted in a small foot infection, forcing him to take a break from cycling.
Despite these challenges, the team persevered, receiving accommodation and tips on secure places to cycle through from Ethiopians. They also experienced moments of jubilation, such as when they crossed into Jeddah before heading to Mecca.
However, they have yet to reach their Sh5 million target, with only Sh3.2 million raised so far. They have a few days left to fundraise before their five-day pilgrimage to Mecca, which starts on August 9-14.
