'A Night Around : The Pearl 2016'

by Husna Inayathullah

'A Night Around The Pearl' was held recently at Park Street Mews, Colombo. 'Around The Pearl' is an annual cycling trip forover 10 days covering 1,400kms along the beautiful coastal belt of Sri Lanka to raise funds for wheel chairs for children affected by cerebral palsy.

A group of non-progressive disorders of movement and posture, cerebral palsy is one of Sri Lanka's most common childhood permanent disabilities. Since its inception in 2014, 'Around The Pearl' has raised substantial funds and donated over 1,100 wheel chairs as an initial step to reach the Herculean challenge of 40,000 wheelchairs.

The 'Around The Pearl' initiative is conducted in partnership with the Cerebral Palsy Lanka Foundation (CPLF) and WrooM, a project that promotes cycling as an alternative mode of transport and increases awareness of public road safety rules.

CPLF President, Gopi Kitnasamy said, "Cerebral palsy permanently affects body movements and the muscle coordination, thus wheel chairs are an important mode of movement for these affected, providing much needed freedom. Children affected by cerebral palsy usually have limited mobility or are completely bedridden which often leads to various health complications including muscle contractions."

He further said that children who don't have wheelchairs find it difficult to live a full life as they cannot even leave their homes, and find it difficult to make friends and fit into a community.

The project was initiated to help children with Cerebral Palsy to get about and encourage maximum participation in the society.