Bhatkal: Saif Sulthan Sayed and his wife, Adila Farheen, have taken up an inspiring 3800 km bike ride from Mangaluru to Kargil with a mission to create awareness about blood donation and promote women's empowerment. The journey, which commenced on Friday, aims to highlight the crucial significance of blood donation while challenging stereotypes associated with women wearing the hijab.

The couple received a heartwarming reception at Tengingundi Cross in Bhatkal on Friday night, where they were felicitated by President of Majlise Islah Wo Tanzeem Bhatkal, Inayatullah Shabandri. Saif Sulthan, a motivational speaker and life coach, expressed his vision for the ride, saying, "While spreading awareness on blood donation is the prime objective of this journey, I would also like people to understand that my wife, a hijabi, will be riding, indicating that women wearing the hijab are not subdued. Muslim women are educated and are allowed to pursue their aspirations within the religious framework."

The Lions Club in Mallikatte flagged off the ride on Friday, with the couple carrying Indian, Karnataka, and Tulu Nadu flags throughout their journey. On August 15, they will hand over these flags to Col Abhimanyu in Kargil, symbolizing their unity and purpose.

"We anticipate covering an average of 300 km daily, crossing nine states in total. The journey's expenses are estimated at Rs 2.8 lakh, and we are grateful to private firms that have generously supported our campaign," shared Saif Sulthan.

This bike ride represents not only a quest to encourage blood donation but also a powerful statement about breaking stereotypes and promoting gender equality, empowering women to follow their passions and contribute to society.

Their route will take them through Mangaluru, Udupi, Kundapur, Bhatkal, Honnavar, Belagavi, Pune, Mumbai, Surat, Ahmedabad, Udaipur, Jaipur, Delhi, Amritsar, Jammu, and Srinagar before reaching Kargil. During the ride, they plan to interact with the public, spreading awareness about the importance of blood donation and distributing souvenirs and chocolates as tokens of appreciation.