Saffron Road Motorcycle Tours donates a percentage of its profits to charities and community projects in the countries where it operates motorcycle tours.

Media release from Saffron Road Motorcycle Tours

Benefiting Nepal charities - 'Sewa Kendra Leprosy Relief' and 'Little School On The Roof'

Christchurch, New Zealand - Saffron Road Motorcycle Tours announces their inaugural 'Wheels Within Wheels' charity ride, Nepal 20th November - 4th December 2010 benefiting local Nepalese charities the Sewa Kendra Leprosy Relief, and 'Little School On The Roof'.

Saffron Road Motorcycle Tours (SRMT) has always donated a percentage of its profits to charities and community projects in the countries where it operates motorcycle tours. Having ridden through some of the world's more remote areas, it became clear to the principal that many of these communities lack basic services or community aid development, and that the company and its clients could make a difference.

"Having toured to these communities for so many years, we at Saffron Road see it as our responsibility to help initiate awareness and support. That is why we started the 'Wheels Within Wheels' charity motorcycle rides," announces Phillipa Saxton (Saffron Road Founder and Director).

"Many people donate money to large charities with no way of knowing exactly where that money goes. By joining one of our charity rides people can enjoy a great holiday while seeing precisely where every cent of their collected donations is spent. Our clients actually visit the projects and meet the people."

After a visit to Nepal early in 2010, SRMT chose the Sewa Kendra Leprosy Relief and its 'Little School on the Roof' as the 'Wheels Within Wheels' November 2010 ride beneficiaries. "Few other people are as ostracized as those inflicted with leprosy (Hanson's Disease)," explains Ms Saxton.

"The sad thing is the disease is totally curable with a course of antibiotics, and many of the damaging and disfiguring effects can be reversed or alleviated by wound care and/or surgery. It is more than unfortunate that many people who contract leprosy go undiagnosed until the disease has taken hold and caused severe ulcers and deformity. The deep-seated fear of the disease in remote uneducated communities results in the poor victim being excommunicated by their families and village community, so they become destitute are forced to beg for a living.

Funds directed to the Sewa Kendra Leprosy Relief will help buy equipment such as prosthetic aids and much needed generators to power the hospital which only receives mains power four hours a day.

Additionally, a portion of funds will be distributed to the 'Little School on the Roof'. Quite literally, this small two-room pre-school and after school care centre catering to the children of leprosy patients, is on the roof of the two-storey hospital. "Currently, the school is built of corrugated iron, has no insulation, no fans and no heating ~ and only a 'safety' rope around the roof perimeter to stop children falling off! With the efforts of our clients, we can help build a wall around the roof, classrooms can be insulated, and educational equipment can be purchased."

Other charity rides in the planning phases include supporting a school and medical center in Cambodia, the building of hostels for Pakistani and Nepalese girls wanting to continue their education, an orphanage
and a women's refuge in Darjeeling and vocational training for motorcycle mechanics in Mongolia.

"Our charity motorcycle rides really are a win/win scenario," said Saffron Road's Kelsey Bray. "We have found many of our clients are seeking to 'make a difference' and to have more interaction with the communities they encounter when on holiday. By putting together the clients with marginalized communities struggling for recognition and help in some the of world's poorest and internally unstable areas, we can assist in meeting both their needs."

One individual can make a difference to people's lives. Grow that number exponentially and the difference increases correspondingly.

Learn more about the 'Wheels Within Wheels' Nepal charity ride, how to book, donate, raise funds and volunteer at www.saffronroad.com/nepal.htm or by contacting Phillipa Saxton at Saffron Road Motorcycle tours, motorcycles@saffronroad.com

[For more information about leprosy and registered charity Sewa Kendra Leprosy Relief and its projects,
go to www.saffronroad.com ~ links to SKLR and sister charity, Promise Nepal UK, can be found though the SRMT website

SKLR Female ward

Basic Prosthetic Aids

Leprosy ulcer                                  Dr Pradhan with Patient

Patient Playing "Goats & Tigers"