Fundraisers who completed a gruelling charity cycle ride were warmly welcomed back to Blackburn over the weekend, following an emotional homecoming celebration.
Family members, friends, and supporters gathered alongside Blackburn MP Adnan Hussian and local councillors to honour the achievements of the Blackburn Hijrah Riders, who raised more than £137,000 for the people of Palestine, Asian Image reported.
The team completed a demanding 340-mile cycle from Makkah to Medina last Thursday. During the journey, they shared footage of their arrival in the holy city of Medina and moments at Masjid an-Nabawi, inspiring supporters back in the UK.
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On Saturday, the riders arrived directly from the airport to the Ivy Centre on Newton Street, where families lined the route holding banners of welcome. Inside the venue, a digital screen displayed images from the journey as supporters applauded and garlanded members of the team.
There were emotional scenes as the riders — many visibly exhausted — were reunited with loved ones after months of preparation and days of intense physical effort.
Although the ride itself lasted just three days, the fundraising campaign stretched over more than six months, with the group organising numerous community events to support the cause.
Hero Welcome
The riders said they were deeply moved by the reception they received.
“We are humbled by the welcome on returning from the Hijrah ride,” the team said.
“We were posting regularly on social media while riding, but we didn’t realise the impact it was having back in the UK.
“It was the ride of our lives. We thank our sponsors for believing in us and our families for supporting us through months of training. We look forward to doing more for the community and charity — watch this space.”
The group cycled in support of Palestinian orphans through the charity Aid for Mankind, which provides assistance to vulnerable families and displaced children across Palestine, Egypt, and Jordan.
The ride was described by the team as a spiritual and symbolic act of reflection, resilience, and renewal, inspired by the Islamic Hijrah — the historic migration of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).