BecakTerus, Rickshaw Charity Ride for 2612 KM Beginning at Aceh Tsunami Museum

Pic 1: It’s the day! #BecakTerus

Banda Aceh, 27 September 2015 – Scott Thompson, a Scottish expat living and working in Indonesia who fundraises for charity by running marathons, has come up with his latest and most crazy idea yet, to raise funds for 4 Foundations in Indonesia. This year Scott initiated BecakTerus, a charity rickshaw ride. This trip will take him from Banda Aceh to Jakarta Raya in 22 days.

BecakTerus began at The Aceh Tsunami Museum on Sunday September 27, 2015, an iconic building that reminds people of The Aceh Tsunami disaster in 2004. The BecakTerus Kick-Off Ceremony at The Aceh Tsunami Museum was attended by Reza Pahlavi – Head of Tourism and Culture in Aceh; Muhammad Farhan – Secretary General YCAB Foundation / Project Director BecakTerus; and Tomi Mulya Hasan – General Manager of the Tsunami Museum.

Pic 2: Scott Thompson with M.Farhan, Project Director BecakTerus, Reza Pahlavi – Head of Tourism and Culture in Aceh, and Tomi Mulya Hasan – General Manager of the Tsunami Museum

This event was also attended by children of YCAB Foundations Learning Centre at Pidie city – Aceh, who provided support to Scott with their appearance while singing “Indonesia Pusaka”. Additional representatives of Wisma Cheshire also attended this event and gave prayers for the journey of “Bule Gila”. This moral support was to help provide additional spirit to Scott Thompson while riding his rickshaw.

Scott is scheduled to arrive at The Breeze, BSD on Sunday, October 18, 2015. “We invite biking and running communities to join and give support to BecakTerus and Scott Thompson. People can instantly accompany Scott along the route ridden by Scott. We expect to increase social awareness of the broader community, “said Farhan, Project Director BecakTerus.

“I wish to profoundly thank all the parties who have supported BecakTerus. On behalf of the four foundations involved which are YCAB Foundation, Mary’s Cancer Kiddies, Wisma Cheshire, and Puspita Foundation. To sponsors:  Achilles, Mogu-Mogu, Cirebon Energy Infrastructure, Guinness, and ICAP. I really hope this activity can inspire people to be more concerned with others, “said Scott Thompson, Founder BecakTerus.

Pic 3 : Scott Thompson with the children from YCAB Foundation Learning Center, Pidie – Aceh.
Scott will traverse various areas in 8 provinces. He will see a clear diversity throughout the island of Sumatra. We are not only able to see how Scott interacts with the local people, but also the reaction of the local people to Scott, as an expat who is riding a rickshaw. This interaction can show their enthusiasm and mutual support to defeat all the differences that may exist between different cultures. Scott hopes this trip can increase public awareness of the mission that he runs.

A rickshaw is one of Indonesia’s traditional modes of transport, which is now considered old-fashioned. Moreover, many cities have stopped using it. BecakTerus activities may seem highly improbable, a small three-wheeled cart that will cover a distance of approximately 2,612 km in three weeks, especially at an average speed of 150 km per day. But Scott had made up his mind. Scott has modified the rickshaw to be safe to pass through terrain along Sumatra and Java. Scott has called his rickshaw “The Flying Merah Putih”. Scott’s action is also trying to break the Guinness World Record in the category Longest Journey by rickshaw.

Scott who has long lived in Indonesia is running BecakTerus’s actions based on a strong desire to build a ‘bridge’ to the less fortunate. The Flying Red and White was previously bought as an obsolete rickshaw by Scott in Tangerang in November 2013. Scott wants to prove that with a little modification and support, a rickshaw can travel very long distances. So it is with so many people who cannot achieve their dreams because of various limitations, as well as the lack of ‘support’ of those around them. This is the primary motivation for Scott in running this crazy idea.

Pic 4 : It was hard rain.. On his way from Banda Aceh to Sigli
Scott’s ‘BecakTerus’ is his third ultra-marathon. In 2010, Scott ran across the Sahara Desert to help children with cancer. In 2012, Scott ran from Bali to Jakarta a distance of 1,250 km and managed to raise substantial funds to build 4 learning houses for YCAB Foundation in Bali, Banyuwangi, Situbondo, and Marunda; and allocated funds to children with cancer.

Scott’s latest action can be followed online via social media with the hashtag #BecakTerus. Along the way Scott will upload a short video that will show part of a trip to see the diversity of Indonesia. Scott also hopes to be able to get the support of the wider community, especially Netizens to help spread the vision and mission to help others through twitter @Berlariterus.

Pic 5 : Interview session with Aceh local media

For the general public who wish to support the action through donations, Scott has taken to Kitabisa.com, an online crowdfunding platform where people are easily able to give donations. With a spirit of mutual cooperation, Scott hopes the funds from the public can be channelled immediately to the four intended foundations. BecakTerus hopes that Individuals / communities can take a bigger part in BecakTerus by also becoming fundraisers through these sites.