Doing the cycle of recovery

SINGAPORE — Karthigayan Ramakrishnan has never completed 42km on a bicycle, but he is not about to let that stop him from taking part in this year’s OCBC Cycle.

In fact, the challenge is unlikely to faze the 32-year-old, who is no stranger to fighting, and winning, battles in life.

In 2007, then National Serviceman Karthigayan suffered burns to 45 per cent of his body after a Taiwanese fighter jet crashed into the army storeroom he was in. Doctors gave him a one-in-three chance of survival. The accident killed five people — three Singaporean soldiers and two pilots from Taiwan.

However, he defied the odds to make a full recovery and, eight years on, Karthigayan will compete in his first-ever cycling event.

While he does not know what to expect when the 42km Sportive Ride flags off on the morning of Aug 30 at the Sports Hub, Karthigayan said he is not completely unprepared.

“I play football during the weekends to increase my stamina and do a bit of strength training at home in the evenings,” he said. “But it’s my first time cycling 42km. I’m just looking forward to enjoying the ride and to challenge myself.”

Despite being new to the sport, Karthigayan signed on for the OCBC Cycle to help raise funds for the Transplant Research, Unique care and Education (TRUE) Fund managed by SingHealth Foundation.

He will be part of a 29-strong group — which includes other burns survivors, organ donors and healthcare professionals — cycling in the event to raise about S$100,000 for TRUEfund.

Among the group are Freddy Neo and Badron Nisha Abdul Gahni Khan — both are also burns victims who are set to race in the Sportive Ride.

For Badron Nisha, being able to participate in a sporting event seemed a distant dream after her accident.

She was burnt in a gas stove explosion in her house 15 years ago, and found it difficult to perform even the simplest of tasks after she was discharged from hospital. It took her four hours to shower, and she was unable to move about without a walking aid.

The 54-year-old hopes her participation in the OCBC Cycle will inspire other burns survivors. “Cycling this 42km race will be challenging for me, but I’m sure I can do it,” said Badron Nisha, who has been cycling up to three times a week to prepare for the event. “This will also prove that burns survivors can do the same thing as everyone else. ”

Neo, 59, who was burnt in a work accident 15 years ago, will be riding as part of the SingHealth contingent for the third time this year.

He wakes up as early as 5am, twice a week, for training rides that range from 30 to 50km, and is hoping to finish the race in under two hours.

Aside from taking on the 42km challenge, he wants to help raise awareness about the nine transplant services in Singapore, in particular skin donation.

“Skin is the biggest organ, but it’s the least donated,” he said. “We’re aware of how important skin donation is because we’ve benefited directly from that. It’s only after we got burnt and talked to the hospital staff that we realise we have a shortage of skin donors in Singapore.”

The OCBC Cycle 2015 will feature five race categories — including the OCBC Cycle Speedway Club Championship featuring 15 local cycling teams — with participants in the Sportive Ride to cycle on a new route that will take them past landmarks such as the Singapore Flyer and Gardens by the Bay before finishing at the Sports Hub.

The Aug 29 to 30 race has been capped at 9,000 participants, with about 5,400 expected to compete in the Sportive category.

Visit http://www.ocbccycle.com for more details.