Dararith is traveling from western Nepal's remote Himalayas to the Nepal-India border. Supplied
As families across Cambodia celebrated the cherished traditions of Kan Ben and Pchum Ben with joyous reunions, Tiv Dararith was in the rugged borderlands between Nepal and India, continuing his year-long humanitarian mission.
The ambitious solo cyclist, who set out to raise $250,000 for Cambodian children's hospitals, recently experienced a setback when he suffered a minor crash in the mountains. Nevertheless, he remains committed to his cause.
“Please accept my congratulations from afar on the traditional Pchum Ben Day. I wish all Cambodians good luck and happiness. Do good deeds today by donating money to help many Cambodian children in the hospital,” Dararith wrote on social media.
Dararith has been navigating through the Himalayan Mountains for almost 10 days, enduring challenges far beyond his expectations.
His journey, now in its fourth month, has taken him across treacherous terrain, often forcing him to ride through the night due to the lack of suitable campsites.
"There is no place to camp. I sometimes have to continue riding my bicycle up the mountain in the middle of the forest all night," he shared in a recent video.
Despite these difficulties, he is undeterred, reiterating that his efforts are for the benefit of the Kingdom’s ill children, particularly those battling cancer.
Dararith met local Nepalese people during his ten-day adventure in the Himalayas. Supplied
The Kantha Bopha Foundation of Cambodia, one of the beneficiaries of the funds raised by Dararith, also highlighted another remarkable journey which is taking place.
“Oum Bun Reth is travelling alone by motorcycle from Europe to Cambodia. He has now reached Pakistan, and has raised nearly $60,000. He is expected to arrive in Cambodia by the end of October 2024,” said the foundation.
“Meanwhile, Dararith is cycling solo from Cambodia to Europe, with plans to spend about a year on a project aimed at raising $250,000 for the treatment of children,” it added.
The Foundation expressed its deep gratitude to both men for their unwavering commitment to helping Cambodian children.
Dararith shared his and Bun Reth's adventures: “Hope to meet you on the streets of India or another Central Asian country soon,” he said.
Dararith was honoured to participate in a 'Traditional Dance Competition' on Thursday last week. Supplied
As he travels towards the European end of his adventure in June 2025, the long-distance cyclist has been honoured by several local organizations. He was invited to participate in the “Traditional Dance Competition, organised by Stars Studio Pvt. Ltd. and Stars Foundation Nepal.
The event dedicates itself to the preservation and promotion of language, literature, culture, drama, folk language, music and dance.
“I would like to express my special thanks to Deepak Gurung and his team for organising this special event, the presence of adventure travellers from Cambodia, and the coverage of several media outlets in Nepal,” said Daravith.
He also received recognition from the Gandaki Provincial Government, using the platform to speak about his cycling charity mission.
“The platform provided me with the opportunity to express my interest in my trip to Nepal and the cycling charity programme,” he explained.
For more information on how to contribute to Dararith’s mission, follow his social media updates under “Travel with Rith” or visit the Angkor Hospital for Children’s website.
