They pedal 24k km, break Guinness record

Y. Maheswara Reddy | NT

Two youth from Bengaluru have broken the Guinness Book World Record by cycling 24,000 km, covering 29 States and four Union Territories in 245 days to raise awareness on environmental protection and compulsory education. The earlier record was 19,500 km.

Though the objective of the tour is to campaign for different causes, cycling for 24,000 km took a toll on Dhanush M and Hemanth Y B - both lost 14 kg and 16 kg weight respectively.

“I was shocked when someone snatched my mobile phone at a residential area in New Delhi. Finally, my brother helped me to buy a new mobile phone. I had to carry 40 kg of luggage with me,” said Dhanush M.

The youth had to adjust to whatever accommodation was available on the way. “We had to take shelter at a police station on the way to Darjeeling. The police were kind enough to provide food and accommodation for us,” said Hemanth Y.B.

Rotary Bangalore Whitefield Central sponsored Dhanush and Hemanth from Rotaract Club of Shishu Mandir. The cyclothon continued for eight months and culminated in Bengaluru on March 12.

The two youth commenced their cycling trip on July 11 2021, opposite Vidhana Soudha. “We met Chief Ministers of Goa, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat during the cyclothon. We planted a few saplings along with the Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister,” said Hemanth, adding that he hails from Yedagondavanahalli in Bengaluru Rural.

These young men pedalled 120 km every day. They stayed at night in the restrooms arranged by members of the Rotary Club.

A group of five youth from the Rotaract Club of Shishu Mandir have been keeping track of their journey and giving them information on the rest of the journey. Donors of Rotary Bangalore Whitefield, Shishu Mandir Organization, Durga Prasad, Rotaract Club of Shishu Mandir contributed to the Guinness record.

Cong ratulating the youth, Arvind Limbavali, MLA of Mahadevapura constituency said, “What these youngsters have achieved is a commendable feat. It is no joke for them to stay away from their families for 245 days covering the length and breadth of the country.”

Rotarian Fazal Mahmood, Governor of Rotary District 3190 lauded the the initiative taken by the two youth.