Monday May 12, 2008
Four embark on cycling tour to Xiamen
FOR the next 50 days, Tanjung Bungah assemblyman Teh Yee Cheu will be away from the state, cycling across five countries to Xiamen, China, to raise funds for charity.
Proudly displaying his state assemblyman's car emblem on the front of his mountain bike, the 50-year-old said he would be travelling in the name of the state go-vernment and all Penangites. The 5,000km tour will cover Malaysia, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and China.
Teh and three other Penangites Errol Theodor Rinsche, 35, Sam Yeoh, 30, and Tan Chai Khim, 48 have embarked on their ‘Le Tour de Love’ to raise RM500,000 for St John Ambulance Malaysia (Pe-nang), National Cancer Society Malaysia (Penang), Penang Family Planning Association, Penang Du Zhong Education Association and Tamil Foundation Malaysia.
“I am quite calm and even slept early last night. There is not much to worry about because I have got the consent and support from Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng and my party DAP,” he said, during the flag-off by Lim at St John Ambu-lance headquarters on Grove Road yesterday.
Raring to go:Teh(third from left)with his cycling mates and other supporters passing Jalan Air Itam after the flag-off in Penang. Teh said other than raising funds for charity, the tour was also meant to promote a green environment, healthy lifestyle and love.
Teh's wife Cheong Choy Yoke, said she would miss her husband the next two months.
The 40-year-old businesswoman said she had prepared him some special soup last night and some pao shen (American ginseng) for his long and tough journey up north.
A group of supporters, including several DAP assemblymen were present to lend their support.
Lim said he and state execu- tive councillors had given Teh both moral and financial sup- port although it was not a state event.
“It is natural for us to be concerned about his safety, especially now when he is an assemblyman.
“But I finally approved his journey after seeing how committed and passionate he is towards the whole thing,” Lim told the reporters.
Describing the four as “charity heroes”, Lim said he hoped that the team would accomplish their mission and return safely to Penang.
He said should the first journey be a success, the state would consider making the tour an annual event.
“The state is supporting such activities in our effort to promote a caring society.
“Other than giving aid, we want to send a message to all needy people so that they know they are not alone in this world and that society has not abandoned them,” he added.
