Cycling to create awareness on road safety

Hyderabad-based Para-Cyclist Shanmukha Rao Dharmana, who had lost his leg in an accident in 2013, has taken upon himself to promote issues like road safety and organ donation to create awareness among people by cycling all over the state  

Hyderabad-based Para-Cyclist Shanmukha Rao Dharmana is spreading awareness on various issues like road safety and organ donation by cycling all over the state. He lost his left leg in an unfortunate accident in 2013 and it made his life miserable. 

I did a cycling ride in North Telangana to spread awareness among people on issues like road safety and organ donation. I started the tour on December 25 along with three of my friends and toured places like Kamareddy, Nizamabad, Basara, Baimsa, Nirmal, Siddipet, Shamirpet, and Hyderabad

Despite these setbacks, he overcame the problem within a short time and cycled all over the state to create an awareness among people about similar issues. Speaking with The Hans India, Shanmukha Rao shared what drove him to take up cycling as a profession.

“I did MBA and had a full-time job going my way until I met with an accident on December 7, 2013. On that day, I started my day like every other day and suddenly one lorry came in the wrong way and rammed onto my left leg, at Nizampet area. After the accident, I lost hope in life. Due to multiple fractures in my foot and knee, my leg was amputated, and I became a below the leg amputee.  

I didn’t know what to do at that time and suffered financially and physically,” said, Shanmukha Rao Dharmana, the 27-year-old-para-cyclist.

Explaining what drove him to take up cycling as a profession even after the loss of his left leg, he shared “I got an artificial leg at a rehabilitation center in Panjagutta. At that center, I witnessed many people, who were being treated there, all involved in various activities. 

I was inspired by fitness enthusiast Marri Laxman Reddy chairman of Marri Laxman Reddy group of institutions, he is doing several activities at the age of 73. It is then I decided to do cycling with the support of my friends and family,”

Until today, Shanmukha Rao Dharmana has participated in more than 53 Marathons and cycled more than 5800 kilometres. In 2015, he completed cycling from Bangalore to Hyderabad in three days.          

Remembering what happened to him due to the accident, Shanmukha Rao cycling all over the state to make people aware on issues like ‘road safety and organ donation’. “With the support of Srinivas Vuppala, district transport officer, Medchal I did a cycling ride in North Telangana to spread awareness among people on issues like road safety and organ donation. 

I started the tour on December 25 along with three of my friends and toured places like Kamareddy, Nizamabad, Basara, Baimsa, Nirmal, Siddipet, Shamir pet, and Hyderabad. In that tour, people came to us and asked about it and when we informed about the cause they come forward to help us. In that tour, we covered nine districts of Telangana and we plan to do the same in South Telangana soon,” added, Shanmukha Rao Dharmana.    

“I always wanted to do something for the society. Apart from cycling, I am working in a private organization to lead my family. I hope my story will inspire more people to do whatever they want. My dream is to participate in Para Olympics and I will definitely achieve it one day,” concluded, Shanmukha Rao Dharmana.