Nine cyclists ride from Lagos to Accra in support of autism community
La Palm Royal Beach Hotel on Thursday in Accra welcomed a team of nine Nigerian cyclists who rode from Lagos to Accra to raise awareness and support for the autism community.
This initiative was part of their participation in the “Play with Stephen” Golf Tournament.
The cyclists began their journey on Tuesday, with their arrival marking one of several activities organized by the Play with Stephen Foundation. These events are building anticipation for the 5th edition of the golf tournament, which runs from August 23rd to 25th.
Before returning to Nigeria in two days, the cyclists will tour various parts of Accra by bicycle.
Stephen Onaivi, the founder of the Play with Stephen Foundation, congratulated the cyclists on completing such a challenging task in support of a worthy cause.
“I think it is very surreal when you think about an initiative and it keeps getting bigger. Your arrival helps us celebrate a journey of commitment, perseverance, and dedication. This is a lifelong journey that requires endurance, much like the experiences of people with autism, their families, and loved ones. We recognize the tenacity and strength it takes to complete this journey, and I must commend you all. We need more initiatives like this in West Africa,” Onaivi said.
Eziafakau Nwokolo, leader of the cycling team, who is also a doctor and mother of a child with autism, highlighted the importance of such initiatives.
“For me, it’s not just about awareness. There’s a difference between awareness and educating people. As you create awareness, you need to educate people. If you just tell someone about autism and walk away, they still won’t understand because autism is a hidden disability; you don’t see it. My daughter once did something that left everyone wondering what was wrong with her, but she was acting based on what she understood. I’ve had to diagnose several unsuspecting individuals, including adults. So, as I’ve said, we must not only create awareness but also educate people,” Nwokolo shared.
Mr. Anthony Ghansah, General Manager of the La Palm Royal Beach Hotel, expressed his excitement about partnering with the Play with Stephen Foundation to help make one of the event’s activities a success.
“Every year, as part of our corporate social responsibility, we engage with the community. When we heard about this event, we decided to collaborate with Stephen to find a way to help, and discovering that there’s a golfing aspect to it made it even better,” Ghansah said.
Several golfers, golf enthusiasts, and pioneers within the autism community will gather at the Achimota Golf Club on Sunday to have fun, network, and, most importantly, participate in the Play with Stephen Golf Tournament.
