Cycling to combat cancer

Harka Lama felt as though his life was ending when he was diagnosed with bladder cancer in 2020. The treatment was a hard-won battle, with two surgeries and 27 rounds of chemotherapy before he went into remission in 2022.

As harrowing as his journey was, he did not have to worry much about covering the cost of his treatment, thanks to friends and well-wishers, particularly those overseas, who extended financial support. Lama’s fight against cancer was less painful because of this support.

However, throughout his grueling treatment, he could not help but think of those who might not have the support he got.

“I had help from friends, but I saw many cancer patients who could not even afford to be admitted to hospital for treatment,” says Lama. “I had to do something to help.”

An avid cyclist, Lama had met Bikash Parajuli, an orthopaedist at Dhulikhel Hospital, in 2017 when he participated in the Yak Attack high-altitude mountain bike race in which Parajuli was a medic. When Lama was diagnosed with cancer, Parajuli encouraged him to go for treatment at Dhulikhel.

While brainstorming about ways to raise funds for patients in need, Lama was inspired by Yak Attack to raise money through cross country bicycling. He teamed up with Dhulikhel Hospital and the Cycle Culture Community (CCC), planning to cycle east to west along Nepal’s foothills to raise funds. 

Five years later this month, bicyclists began their fundraising tour from Panchthar’s Chiwabanjyang in eastern Nepal to Baitadi’s Jhulaghat in the west, cycling 1,800km across Nepal from 1-27 January.

Lama and Parajuli, along with Kabita Chitrakar, Bhairaja Maharjan, and Keshav KC cycled the full route. Along the way, more than 50 people had joined with their bicycles for parts of the trail.

Lead rider Kabita Chitrakar is currently being treated for breast cancer that was diagnosed four years ago after she had lost both her mother and sister to the disease.

CYCLING, A SAVIOUR

“It was doubly painful to be battling the disease by myself after losing them,” says Chitrakar who found out during a radiation therapy session that the cancer had spread to her lungs and the doctor gave her six months to live. “I fell into a depressive spiral. I could not eat or sleep.”

Her friends and family encouraged her to take up cycling to keep her spirits up. Her nephew brought her a bicycle with a modified seat so that she could ride comfortably. In time, what had started as a hobby became a passion.

“As I rode through mountains and forests, I began to enjoy cycling, and my heart began to feel lighter. I was no longer sad, cycling changed my whole perspective towards life,” she told us, back in Kathmandu. She has gone through eight rounds of chemotherapy and has heard from other women how much her spirit inspired them, too. 

“My family was my pillar through my treatment, encouraging me to fight this disease and live my life to the fullest,” she says. “I want to encourage other women to who are going through the same thing that I did.”

As Lama and Chitrakar cycled up and down mountain trails, the team did not just raise funds, they also held awareness programs in 14 schools across 11 districts about cancers, mobilising local mother’s groups.

“We encouraged young girls and women to be aware about the risks of breast and cervical cancer, and go for screening and mammography,” says gynecologist Suman Raj Tamrakar, a member of the cycling team. “We met with over 1,700 young girls and women during our journey.”

The cycling team has raised Rs2.3 million, and it will be handed over to Dhulikhel Hospital, which has committed to matching the amount raised to cover the cost of treatment for poorer patients. 

Says Lama: “I am beyond happy to have completed this journey. But even happier that we raised all that money for the cause.”