KATHMANDU: Hundreds of participants were ready to wind their way through the hustle and bustle of Kathmandu city in a bike rally organised by the students of Kathmandu College of Management pursuing Bachelors of Business Administration (IIIrd year). Growling bike engines and cheering students and participants filled the morning air with vitality.

The rally titled ‘Girls on Wheels 2009’ was organised with a view

to collect funds to support an old age home — Jyoti Ashram at Thankot. It started at 7: 30 am from NLIC City Centre and ended at KCM College, Gwarko.

“This event primarily aims at funding an old age home along with having fun in the treasure hunt programme,” said event coordinator Chang Agrawal. “This is a ‘girls special’ rally. Many bike rallies held in Kathmandu include men only and girls rarely get an opportunity. Therefore, with a view to encourage and entertain female riders and basically with the vision ‘By Women, For Women’ we are all set for this funfilled rally.”

Jyoti Ashram is a home for old ladies and Agrawal, therefore, says the fund raising programme is ‘by women, for women’.

The rally began with a warm up round starting from City Centre

via Putalisadak and back to the starting point. Each team consisted of two participants who had to reach 10 different spots, perform various tasks assigned and earn treasure coins.

Jabish Gohlyan, one of the participants and a KCM student said, “Since it’s a woman special, it’s an interesting point for participation. Moreover, the event is aimed at providing funds for an old age home, it makes it a special event for us.”

Another participant Hindu Sankriti Karki said, “We are here for a noble cause and such programmes should be initiated

because it can be a factor that will motivate others to help such voluntary organisations.”

The team collecting the highest number of treasure coins would

be declared the winners, but they were to reach the scheduled destination by 2:00 pm.

Rama Shrestha and Sophia Gurung were announced the winners, while Aditi Rana and Nikita Pradhan bagged the first runner-up title.

Laxmi Shrestha and Shristi Manandhar stood third.

A musical mela was held at KCM premises from 3:30 pm onwards where singers like Ciney Gurung, Sital and Subani Moktan, Nirnaya and others were to perform.