Autistic cyclist set for Accra-Tamale awareness ride
Autistic cyclist, Young Phil Bertino, would be engaged in an audacious ride from Accra to Tamale for his 2025 Autism awareness creation through cycling campaign on Wednesday, April 2- 4.
The campaign, which had been running for the past six years, would see the 18-year-old, joined by other professional cyclists for the over 600km challenge.
Dubbed: ‘Empowering Autism through Action,’ the cyclists, would engage residents and commuters as they raise awareness and drum home the need for society to accept and support children living with autism.
Under the auspices of the Liztino Centre for Children with Special Needs, the campaign would begin at the Accra Sports Stadium where organisers would engage the public before starting the journey.
The team would on Wednesday, ride from Accra through Nkawkaw to Konongo and make a stop in Kumasi before continuing the campaign from Kumasi to Tamale and expected to arrive on Friday.
Speaking ahead of the campaign, the Founder of the Liztino Centre and mother to Young Phil, Mrs Angel Bertino, said they decided to take up the challenge in order to engage more people on autism.
She explained that over the past years, the cyclists succeeded in his campaign from Accra to other regions, including Central, Eastern, Volta and Western regions, and were determined to reach out to Ashanti and the Northern regions.
That, she stated, would further drum home the need for society to do better in their support and interaction with autistic people.
“People still think autistic children are burden to society but when supported, they can live an independent life and can excel in anything they do,” she stated.
Additionally, she said they have received some positive feedbacks from the public, following previous awareness campaigns with thousands of people accepting their autistic children and supporting them to grow.
“Some have gone back to school with others learning some skill to become entrepreneurs as well as other things,” she noted.
“This is a huge and longest journey and we need all on board to support and push the cyclist to raise the flag of Ghana,” she said.
