14 August 2025

In 2014, Sense International India’s Ahmedabad team were looking for a way to celebrate Helen Keller Day, honouring the legacy of the deafblind activist and author. Mybyk, a local bicycle-sharing service, had just launched, and the new availability of cycles in the city seemed an opportunity to mobilise people whilst sharing their message.  

That June, they held the first ‘Messengers On Cycles’ event; 180 riders, supported by a team of 20 volunteers, took part in a city-wide cyclathon. In July 2025, the 11^th edition of the event saw over 1,000 participants,  cheered on by more than 150 volunteers, cycling in support of people with deafblindness. 

Over the years, ‘Messengers on Cycles’ has become an anticipated event in Ahmedabad. According to Sense International India’s Sherine Stanley, its growth has primarily come from word of mouth. “It’s great fun. People bring their friends along, knowing they‘re riding for a good cause.”. More than just a cycling event, it has transformed into a festival of celebration and awareness. 

The event 

On the day, the crew gathered by 4:30am. By the opening stage, ticket-holders took part in a warm-up run by the event’s ‘Zumba partners’, who’ve supported Messengers On Cycles for the past 9 years. At 6:30 am, they flagged off; first tricycle riders, then cyclists, then participants with disabilities, and finally those taking part in a “walkathon” began the challenge.  

Upon their return, the stage had been transformed into a bustling festival; stalls served breakfast boxes, chai, baked goods, ice cream, goodie bags, and much more, generously provided by the event’s sponsors. This year there were 31 – many have supported from the early days, but there are new partnerships each year, students from the local business school volunteer to help with sponsor relationships. The atmosphere of the day is always electric; the community looks forward to the event each year, where they celebrate ‘the unstoppable spirit of persons with deafblindness’. 

This year was an extra-special occasion as it also acted as the local launch of the Global Deafblindness Resource Hub, a digital platform dedicated to providing resources and information for people with deafblindness around the world, which was officially launched by Sense International earlier this year.

Community impact 

According to Sherine, the event has helped to raise awareness of deafblindness, and sensitise schoolchildren who participate from a young age. Many people with disabilities take part – the event now has an accessibility partner, Torchit, providing smart canes and tethers, as well as guide walkers and tactile sign language communication. Participants often go on to become supporters of Sense International India, setting up regular donations and receiving mailouts. The event raises money for the charity’s operations through ticket sales and sponsorships, but just as importantly, it solidifies its place as part of the local community. 

Looking to the future 

Now the team are pushing for Messengers On Cycles to reach further; this year they partnered with 21 bloggers and influencers, as well as a series of “brand ambassadors” including popular Tedx speaker and activist Dr Falguni Vasavada, to spread the message to their large followings. They worked pro-bono, receiving goodie bags from the sponsors who they in turn promoted on their channels. In addition the team hosted social media giveaways, leveraged sponsors’ audiences, and received extensive media coverage in local and national news. Thanks to these efforts, the charity received over 3 million views across its social media posts, and 93 people travelled specifically to Ahmedabad to take part in the cyclathon this year. In the future, there are hopes these numbers will grow. 

The success of the event is testament the drive and creativity of the Sense International India team, as well as the support of their partners and the spirit of the people of Ahemdabad in supporting people with deafblindness. The charity’s COO Biju Mathews shared: 

“Every step walked and every mile cycled represents our unwavering commitment to building a world where persons with deafblindness and multiple disabilities are seen, heard and valued. My heartfelt gratitude to all the participants, volunteers and sponsors whose continued support fuels this journey of awareness and change year after year.”