Sky Blues striker, Amadou Bakayoko is setting himself a challenge of cycling 72km in 10 days to raise money and awareness for Islamic Relief.
The challenge itself is the Hajj step challenge, which is an annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia, which brings together and unites Muslims from different parts of the world.
This year, due to the global pandemic Covid-19, this challenge with be reduced in numbers, but Baka will still amass the same distance, but on his bike instead.
To keep this spirit of Hajj alive, I will be either walking/cycling or running 72km over the first 10 days of Dhul Hijjah to raise funds for @islamicreliefuk to provide 'Water for Life’ TO HELP DONATE CLICK LINK.https://t.co/keTo4yuiaI pic.twitter.com/8LpMm7SPOo
— Bakayoko20 (@bakayoko_a) July 10, 2020
He said: “Normally after Ramadan, people go to the Hajj and do a walk and the walk is normally 72km, but this year we won’t be able to do it and there won’t be that many people there.
“So I’m doing the challenge of doing 72km and I’m going to do it on the bike and I know a few others are walking and running, but I’m going to cycle over the ten days.
“It’s a case of spreading that distance out over the ten days and it just gives people the chance to do the equivalent of the walk instead of going to Saudi Arabia where the walk normally is.”
However, this year, not only will Baka clock up the distance, he will also look to raise money to help provide clean and fresh water.
“I do it every year, but some people can’t make the trip to Saudi Arabia, so this is another way of doing it.
“I thought at the same time, with the things that are happening in Yemen and in Africa, it would be a chance to raise money to provide fresh water over there and this challenge will help that.
“The money I raise will go to Yemen and Africa and helping the people there get access to clean and fresh water.”
Baka himself has been affected by this and knows that every penny he raises will go towards helping others.
“I’ve had a connection with this because I have family, friends and myself, who have been in that situation where you don’t have access to clean water back in Africa and when you’re over there you don’t feel like you have any support or anyone is helping and sometimes and you don’t know who to ask for help.
“When I found out about the opportunity of raising money and awareness, I wanted to do that like I did with my love, live, laugh.
“I just want to help people and it’s something I want to do, to use the platform that I have as a professional footballer and hopefully I can do bigger and better over the next few years.”
LINK IN BIO!!
— Bakayoko20 (@bakayoko_a) July 10, 2020
To try and help raise money for ‘water for life’I will be giving away my rare and special match worn two tone shirt to one of the lucky donators and match worn against Peterborough where I managed to grab the first goal and also pair of boots from my first season. pic.twitter.com/p1mNaejz4i
Not only is Baka raising money by completing the 72km challenge, but he is also giving away a match worn 2-Tone shirt and match worn boots.
One of the lucky donators to his fund raiser will win the shirt and boots, signed by the striker himself.
So, if you would like to donate money for Baka’s challenge, then you can do so by clicking here.