WOMEN CYCLE FOR PEACE

By Ryan Harrison A TEAM of women cyclists from Majorca will this September take part in a fundraising cycle event across the Middle East in a protest for peace. The six women that make up the Majorcan team will join over 300 other women from 30 different countries in the Follow the Women peace campaign, a 10-day event that covers Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Ramallah. The brainchild of former European Women of the Year and Nobel Prize Nominee Detta Reegan, this September's event will be the second undertaken. One of the primary aims is to highlight the fact that women in the Middle East are prevented from riding bicycles. Detta said: “We were told that we would not be able to do it because women do not ride bicycles in the Middle East. “They said the men would throw stones at us and it was too dangerous. That just made us more determined to do it. “To show the women in the region that we were not afraid and that we stood with them,” she added. This year's cycle event will take place between September 15 and 25. The Majorca Team, who can be seen training along the Paseo Maritimo, are currently galvanising support from people on Majorca and have organised a number of successful fundraising events. So far the team have raised 2'243 euros with the help of friends and family. Their cause has also taken on a renewed significance in light of the London bombings last month. Laura Penn, co-ordinator for Follow the Women in Majorca, said: “The bombings in London, and in Madrid last year, have brought it home to everyone that the quest for global peace has never been more important, because no one is safe anymore.” She added: “In a shrinking world there is no such thing as someone else's conflict. “Any one of us could be a victim, so it is up to every one of us to do something for peace.” An Arabian Night fundraising event is planned for August 19 in Peguera and the team will have a practice cycle around Calvia in early September. For those who want to lend their support or join the team contact Laura Penn on: 620004461.