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This summer, Lebanon on Wheels is back stronger than ever, for its fifth edition !

Two teams will be taking on the cycling challenge. First, Eleonore Rubbers, Quentin Guyot and Rodolphe van Hövell will be cycling over 2000 kilometres from Budapest to Luxembourg. They will then be relayed by Benitau Uckert and Antonius Maes who will cycle some 3000 kilometres from Kiel, in the very north of Germany to Budapest.

Both teams will be raising money to finance specialised education for disabled friends in Lebanon. The goal is to allow seven young men to access a special-needs school for two years. The young men are Tony, Rached, Ayman, Ghattas, Elie, Fady and Charbel. Whilst they all have their very individual characters, all of them are full of kindness, warmth and love. They are nevertheless complex young men who have all benefited hugely from having the opportunity of going to school.

Whether they be physically or mentally disabled, access to specialised education is usually close to impossible for the handicapped in Lebanon. The disadvantaged in Lebanon aren´t given the care or support that is thankfully familiar in much of Western Europe. The homes have few public funds at their disposal and as a consequence most of the institutions are hopelessly overcrowded and have trouble finding suitable personnel. The nuns and caretakers work with huge amounts of love and ensure that the key elements of day to day life are accomplished (feeding, washing, diaper changing and so on). However, this project aims to help in providing a small but important amount of help to the lives of Lebanese friends.

Most importantly, Lebanon is currently experiencing one of the most serious economic and financial crises in its history. The situation has been exacerbated by the outbreak of the coronavirus. In such a situation, the fate of the weakest is often overlooked.

This is a particularly difficult time for our friends in the homes. Not only are they suffering from the fact that they have no visitors, no therapies or holiday camps at the moment, but their basic care is also at risk. The price of medicines, diapers and other care items has already doubled in recent weeks and many relatives can no longer bring their usual monthly nappy and care packages to the homes. The sisters face the immense challenge of continuing to care for the physical and mental well-being of their protégés in this crisis situation.

The aim of the project is to provide these seven young men, from a range of homes across Beirut, with a tailored education which isn’t available to them in the home. Their schooling is ensured by 8 teachers and includes a psychologist, physical education, a music teacher as well as a theater Teacher. The cost of the school is $1000 per person per year and our goal is to secure their visits there for the next two years.

Please do help us in any way you can, be that by donating, promoting Lebanon on Wheels or offering a meal or a shower to the cyclists along the way. Every little helps and reaching out means a lot to us.

Thank you.

Quentin, Eleonore, Rodolphe, Antonius & Benita.

Links:

• Betterplace: https://www.betterplace.org/en/fundraising-events/35475

• Website: https://www.lebanononwheels.com/

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lebanononwheels/

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lebanononwheels