PHNOM PENH: A Cambodian cyclist who spent more than two years riding nearly 60,000km across more than 40 countries says his mission was about more than raising money for children’s healthcare — it was about proving Cambodians can achieve global milestones and inspiring a new generation to dream beyond the country’s borders.
Speaking to The Post following a July 27 press conference marking the conclusion of the “Cycling for Cambodia’s Children” campaign on July 27, Tiv Dararith described the expedition as “a new historic record for Cambodia”, while noting that his efforts raised more than US$260,000 for the Kantha Bopha Foundation and Angkor Hospital for Children.
“This mission meant more than charity. It was a new milestone for me and the kingdom, with me becoming the first Cambodian to cycle through more than 40 countries and bring Cambodia’s name onto the international stage,” he said.
“I hope Cambodian young people will be proud and see a bigger picture. We can do it. One day there will be people who are more capable than me, smarter than me and able to travel even farther, continuing to bring Cambodia to the world,” he added.
The full proceeds will go to the Kantha Bopha Foundation and Angkor Hospital, which deliver free medical treatment and healthcare services for Cambodian children.
The Ministry of Information hosted the closing press conference, which was attended by information minister Neth Pheaktra and representatives of the recipients of his fundraising.
Although the expedition took him across some of the world’s harshest environments, Dararith said the physical dangers were not the greatest obstacle he faced.
He recalled cycling through the Himalayas at altitudes reaching 6,000m above sea level, enduring temperatures as low as minus 40 degrees Celsius during winter in Central Asia and contracting malaria in Central Africa, an illness that nearly claimed his life.
Yet those hardships were overshadowed by another challenge.
“People saw through my documentary that I encountered countless dangers and obstacles, but those were not the biggest challenge,” he said.
“The greatest challenge was how to raise enough money to complete the mission successfully and return home safely,” he added.
He noted that travelling on a Cambodian passport also proved to be one of the most difficult aspects of the journey.
“Using a Cambodian passport to travel through all those countries was almost impossible. But through determination, careful planning and perseverance, I managed to complete the mission successfully,” he said.
Reflecting on the campaign’s conclusion, Dararith credited the information minister for supporting the initiative from its inception.
“I express my sincere gratitude to the minister because he was the first person within the Royal Government to support the ‘Cycling for Cambodia’s Children’ mission, from the very first day,” he said.
He also stressed that public confidence had been central to the campaign’s success.
“I want to assure everyone that this campaign was conducted with 100% transparency and accountability. Together we successfully delivered more than $260,000 in donations to the Kantha Bopha Foundation and Angkor Hospital for Children,” he said.
Dararith said he hoped the campaign would encourage more Cambodians, particularly young people, to believe they could make meaningful contributions to society.
“I hope these efforts can serve as an example for Cambodian youth that we can achieve great things and continue working together to help our society,” he said.
“I believe the information ministry can play a maximum role in encouraging public participation in humanitarian activities and donations for Cambodian children. The ministry has already done tremendous work in promoting and supporting charitable initiatives across society,” he added.
Although his global cycling expedition has come to an end, Dararith said several new projects are already underway.
They include writing a book about the journey, producing a documentary titled Two Years on a Bike, organising an exhibition featuring photographs, equipment and the bicycle used during the expedition, and seeking support from the Ministry of Tourism for a six-month cycling tour across Cambodia.
He said the proposed domestic journey would showcase Cambodia’s natural tourism destinations to international audiences while continuing to demonstrate that adventurous travel can also serve humanitarian and national causes. - The Phnom Penh Post/ANN
