Dubai businesswoman to cycle 150km in Sweden for Syrian refugee children

Linda Jarnhamn is working with The Big Heart Foundation to help displaced children get their schooling back on track after years of conflict in their home country.

Linda Jarnhamn trains at Nad Al Sheba Cycle Park in Dubai for the upcoming Halvvattern race in Sweden. Satish Kumar / The National

DUBAI // A businesswoman is taking on a 150-kilometre cycling challenge to raise Dh50,000 to aid the education of Syrian refugee children.

As a way to raise funds and mark her 40th birthday, Linda Jarnhamn is riding in the Halvvattern, a race which takes place in her native Sweden.

“I’ve been lucky in my life to have had the opportunity to have an education,” said Mrs Jarnhamn, who runs an HR consultancy in Dubai and has lived in the UAE since 2010.

“But that isn’t the case for many children around the world, so I decided to take part in the race and give something back to the community.”

The mother of a two-year-old daughter admits it will be a real challenge for her as she has never been a regular cyclist.

Her preparations for the race that takes place on June 7 were further complicated after a neck injury meant she could not train properly for weeks.

“I strained my neck really badly about a month and a half ago and, since then, have been doing some yoga to get over it,” she said.

“But now that I’ve recovered I’ve been doing as much training as I can to prepare for the event.”

Her preparations include 90 minutes of training at the Nad Al Sheba track three times a week and up to 40km at the Al Qudra cycle path at least once a week.

“With the weather getting hotter I’m usually at Nad Al Sheba for about 5.30am, which gives me enough time to get some training in before the heat really kicks in.”

The Swede is part of an eight-strong team taking part in the race, including her husband and her parents.

“We’ve set ourselves a target of completing the race in seven to eight hours and we’re all looking forward to it,” said the Jumeirah 3 resident.

Mrs Jarnhamm is working with The Big Heart Foundation, which is headed by Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, wife of the Ruler of Sharjah.

The organisation raises awareness about the importance of education and works directly with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to provide Syrian children with access to formal education.

“The money we raise will go towards building schools as well as adding second-shift classes for refugee children who are attending schools in Egypt and Lebanon.”

The funds will be used for enrolment fees, transport and coordination and operational support, she said.

“We raised about Dh25,000, mostly through donations I’ve received, as well as from other friends and family, but we’re open for sponsorship.”

Emma Woodcock, founder of the all-women cycling group Velo Vixens, has been involved in helping Mrs Jarnhamn recover from her neck injury.

“It’s fantastic that she is participating in this event,” she said. “Linda has been taking part in some specialised yoga classes that have helped her recover from her injury and hopefully now she’ll be able to give her best to the race.”

The Halvvattern race is now in its 50th year and is open to cyclists of all levels, with 25,000 people taking part along Vattern lake.

To sponsor Mrs Jarnhamn, visit www.justgiving.com/EducationtoSyrianrefugees.