this article was written by bike ride participant and DSU parent, Maya Alekseeva. Maya works at KPMG here in Moscow and has recently started a charity along with other DSU parents called “Just Like Us,” to inform parents and professionals about children and disabilities.
|
|
| The bike ride started on 25 August. At 6pm everybody gathered at the Ukraine hotel. Then buses drove us to the old Russian town of Pereyaslavl-Zalessky, which was founded together with Moscow in the 12th century by Prince Yuri Dolgoruky. On Saturday when we set off for Suzdal, we had to cycle in drizzling rain. Suzdal is one of the oldest towns in all of Russia and is filled with beautiful monasteries and churches topped by sparkling domes. Luckily the rain soon stopped: everybody was delighted to see the first glimmers of sunshine. We covered 90km on Saturday. The bike ride included both professional and amateur cyclists. In the middle of the day we stopped for traditional shashlik (Russian barbecue). |
 |
We reached Suzdal by evening. Here we enjoyed an excellent supper and were treated to a performance by a folklore group. All the guests became involved in a gripping show called "Russkaya Yarmarka" (Russian fair). On Sunday the cyclists headed off for Vladimir. Vladimir is also one of the oldest towns in Russia and several great Russian statesmen were crownded here. Compared to the previous day, the route was much shorter, but more complicated - winding descents and protracted climbs. The weather, however, was simply excellent - sunny and calm. Although tired, everybody was very happy. After a short break in Vladimir, we returned to Moscow by bus. That evening we celebrated with a festive meal in a restaurant where we enjoyed an impromptu and humorous contest between a professional opera singer from Georgia and James Turnbull, a bike ride participant, each singing wonderful excerpts from classical arias. On Monday morning the cyclists gathered at the beautiful Novodevechiy Convent. The group cycled along the Moscow River embankment to the Kremlin. We cycled in a pack and therefore experienced an extraordinary sense of union amongst a very diverse group of people all coming together for the same purpose. |
|
 |
We
were greeted on Red Square, in front of St. Basil’s Cathedral, by
dozens of DSU parents and their children.
It was so wonderful to see happy children and realise that
we all play a role in their future. The cyclists represented countries from all over the world - Russia, Georgia, the USA, Australia, the Netherlands, Great Britain, Switzerland and France. Some of them were participating for the first time, while others were old-timers. |
| I was pleased to note that one of my KPMG colleagues, Jason Anglin, also participated in the event. Jason has done a lot, and continues to do a great deal, for Downside Up. He took part in the ascent of Kilimanjaro and the Ski-A-Thon last year. My husband, Sasha, was also along on the ride and will participate in Kilimanjaro this year. These are all charitable events, with all proceeds going to the Downside Up children's centre. It is wonderful to see that the number of sponsors is growing every year, bringing the children's centre more and more new friends. Thank you to everyone who helped make this event possible! | |
 |
 |
| News |
| Statistics |
| Press about Downside Up |
| Info for new families |
| Funding |
| Charity Ski Race |
| Red Square Charity Bike Ride |
| How to make a donation |
We
are very grateful
to the following companies
and organisations for their generous support:
E-mail: downsideup@downsideup.org
and of Russian Charitable Fund no. 67698