“Our journey may have ended, but commitment to the cause remains unwavering”

by 2023 Mombasa Bike Tour participants: Stella Ziegler, Arashdeep Singh, Dennis Opondo, Harrison Kuria Karime, Hemant Rathore, Yusuf Dominic, Victor Chelashow

In April 2023, over a dozen IPPNW medical students and junior doctors from 9 countries braved a 500km bike tour from Nairobi to Mombasa, Kenya, leading to IPPNW’s 23rd World Congress. Throughout the 5 day journey, the young leaders rallied junior doctors and medical students to raise awareness and promote action on disarmament, climate justice, and health. Participants met with local community members, decisionmakers, religious leaders, and more. On the journey, the close-knit group learned about each other’s cultures, sang karaoke, discussed perspectives on the threats to life, and united in the common goal of creating a safer, healthier future for future generations. 

Exactly one year following IPPNW’s first international bike tour on the African continent, we are pleased to share personal reflections from bike tour participants, including a few of the lead organizers. Follow IPPNW Students on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram to stay up-to-date on future bike tours and get involved.

Victor Chelashow, Kenya, immediate past co-International Student Representative

I can hardly believe it’s been a year since the last IPPNW Bike Tour in Kenya! To say the trip was amazing would be a great understatement not just because of the scenic views between Mombasa and Nairobi but also the team consisted of perhaps the finest individuals I have ever met. We had tons of fun discussing issues facing doctors, climate change and its impacts especially on vulnerable populations and expectations from the then upcoming congress. I made lots of friends (that I am keeping for life), enjoyed dancing and karaoke in a dingy cafe and eventually explored Mombasa with these brilliant folk! I can’t wait to reunite with them in Japan next year!! 

Yusuf Dominic, Nigeria, immediate past co-International Student Representative

The early morning mist swirled gently in Nairobi as we gathered, fifteen strong and amazing IPPNW cyclists from nine different countries, we were united by a common goal; to experience the spirit of Kenya on two wheels campaigning from Darkness (of nuclear weapons) to light (of Peace)

Sadly, I was the weakest on the team, we rode through changing landscapes. I got so exhausted on the first day to the point of considering stepping onto the bus, but I had pushed on with the support from fellow teammates, especially Kim & Alice. Lush highlands, bustling markets, and vibrant wildlife reserves with zebras, buffalos and wild elephants especially near Samburu reserve were all around us. Nights were spent catching up, sharing stories of previous bike tour experiences. The challenges of steep climbs and scorching heat were eased by shared laughter and encouragement from the team. We grew closer with each kilometer, transforming from strangers into a team. A team I’ve experienced firsthand selflessness from, with genuine willingness to give helping hands and provide a solution when problems arise, the entire team stops when one stops. I felt love, the team work and sacrifice was palpable. There was no room to give up hearing strong Anthonia telling me ‘you are my motivation’ and our team lead asking me to be among the fast leading group, so as not to be left behind. 

On the final day, we reached Mombasa and felt the ocean breeze as we neared the beach. The sense of accomplishment was overwhelming. A number of IPPNW Board members and leaders who were present outside the Hotel welcomed us with cheers, dance, and music. We all felt so special as warriors that we knew it wasn’t just the physical destination that mattered, but the journey itself that had transformed us. As we watched the sunset, we realized that we’d become a family, and the 500-kilometer ride from Nairobi to Mombasa would stay with us forever.

Hope to see you all plus a lot of new faces in the next Bike tour 2025. Love you all.

Harrison Kuria Karime, Kenya, Mombasa Congress Organizing Team

It has been a year since our wheels first rolled out from Nairobi towards Mombasa, yet the emotions of that departure remain as vivid as if it were yesterday. This journey was not just a test of physical endurance but a profound voyage into the heart of what unites us. Amidst a world seeming to spiral into division and disconnection, our diverse group found common ground on two wheels, pushing beyond doubts and fears, driven by a mission far greater than ourselves.

Each day, as we cycled through changing landscapes—from bustling city outskirts to serene coastal roads—we shared not just meals and amateur bike repair moments, but ideas and hopes for a better world. These exchanges went beyond casual conversation, touching on deep, often unspoken yearnings for peace, sustainability, and a sense of global community.

This bike tour was our collective scream into the void, a cathartic release—a plea for attention to the pressing issues facing our planet, from nuclear threats to climate change. With every pedal stroke, we felt closer to our mission, advocating for future generations across all species.

As we marked the end of our journey in Mombasa, the feeling was unanimous; this was merely a beginning. With every goodbye, it felt then as much as it does now, this was not the last time we did this. We parted with a resolve to take this message forward, each in our own way, but forever connected by the journey shared. This tour taught us that while no single one of us can craft a utopia, together, we can foster a world that at least echoes its promise. This was our call to action, to everyone who dreams of change: the path is long, and often steep, but every effort counts. Join us, in whatever way you can, to ensure that the dream of a better world is not just a fleeting hope but a growing reality.  

Dennis Opondo, Kenya, Mombasa Congress Organizing Team

One Health Approach, our guiding aim, 
From Darkness to Light, our mission proclaim,
From Nairobi’s bustle, to Mombasa’s shore, 
IPPNW Bike Tour we explore, 

With each turn of the wheel, a tale of resilience was told,
As we traverse tough paths, memories unfold,
Under the trees, we voiced our fears,
Finding solace in shared sorrows and tears,

Through hills and valleys, under the warming sun, 
A reminder of battles yet to be won,
In moments of honesty, our burdens laid bare, 
Supported by strangers, our souls found repair.

Hemant Rathore, India

An extraordinary gathering took place in Kenya, bringing together physicians from the entire world united in a common cause: the abolition of nuclear weapons. The setting was not only your typical conference hall; it was amidst the vibrant landscapes of Kenya, from the bustling streets of Nairobi to the deep African jungle to the serene coastal shores of Mombasa. 

The journey began in Nairobi, where 15 doctors from 9 different nations converged for the international IPPNW bike tour. We were not content with merely discussing the issues; we were also determined to take action. And so, embarked on a remarkable journey – a cycling expedition from Nairobi to Mombasa, spanning hundreds of kilometers through the lush jungles of Kenya. As we pedaled our way through the diverse terrain, we were not alone. Along the way, we interacted with local villagers, immersing themselves in the rich culture and traditions of Kenya. Also encountered majestic wildlife, from graceful zebras and tuskers to playful monkeys, forming connections not only with each other but also with the natural world around them. Despite the physical challenges of the journey, the bond among the participants only grew stronger with each passing mile. We shared stories, laughter, and moments of reflection, united by their shared passion for peace and their commitment to a world free from the threat of nuclear weapons. 

Arriving in Mombasa, weary but exhilarated, the cyclists celebrated not only their accomplishment but also the friendships forged along the way with rest of the all IPPNW organizers and delegates. Our journey may have ended, but commitment to the cause remains unwavering. In a world often divided by borders and differences, the Cycling for Peace expedition serves as a powerful reminder of the bonds that can be forged when people come together with a common purpose. As we return to our respective nations, we also carry with us not only memories of a remarkable journey but also renewed hope for a future where peace prevails.

Arashdeep Singh, India

Strong emotions create strong memories. IPPNW is an emotion that grows with each bike tour. This was a bike tour full of thrilling experiences, be it riding through the World’s largest game sanctuary on a bike, banging a head into a trolley, or coming face to face with charging elephants. I made new friends in this unfamiliar land with its own culture, and I returned home with a basket full of treasured memories that I cherish every day. I look forward to meeting each one of you again. Love you all 3000! 

Stella Ziegler, Germany IPPNW co-International Student Representative

Wow, I can’t believe it’s already been a whole year since we dared to begin this adventurous journey through Kenya and new aspects of international peace. Even one year later, there are only a few days when I haven’t thought of at least one moment, face, feeling or quote from this tour. The people have inspired me on new levels I have not known before, and ignited a spark that I wasn’t aware I had inside me. I still carry the emotional understanding, hopefulness and dedication for creating a better world for us all inside me. Especially when I can’t seem to find any motivation to keep going, and it seems as if nobody around me even cares about what is happening in this world. I miss the warmth, unconditional support and curiosity we have shared, and sometimes I close my eyes to remember that feeling, and after a few minutes I have gathered enough inspiration again. 

How we managed to pass through 500km with broken bikes, wild elephants and extreme heat , I don’t know. But I know what it stands for: that we can accomplish things we did not think possible, have never done before – if we only take one pedal at a time, and have enough people to push our backs when needed.

I am deeply thankful for all the great people I have met, and proudly follow their paths and lives all over the world. I can only hope to meet again soon, share success and loss, and laugh about old stories and the future we will shape. 

All photo credit to Bimal Khadka, Mombasa Bike Tour participant and IPPNW Board Member.