Help us reach our dream to enter Olympic Qualifier

Hello, we are the Warriors, 'Mina and Arefa' two Afghan refugees who are professional cyclists.

Please watch our story on BBC Breakfast.

The Afghan women cyclists who fled the Taliban

Since arriving in the UK from Afghanistan, the girls have been training daily. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-64556265

Eight months ago we fled persecution from Afghanistan in fear for our lives, for cycling as sportswomen. Just in one day, because we are girls, all our cycling dreams were crushed. We felt broken and dehumanised just for loving sport. We arrived in the UK, in late October 2022 and now we have a new life again thanks to the British public and the UK government.

Sadly we have had to leave our families behind. We missed them very much, but we try to keep busy by following our dreams and training daily under the guidance of our wonderful coach ' James Hey of 'The Cycle Coach'. And kind volunteers from a charity 'Help Children Now' who supported us and campaigned for our refugee resettlement in the UK.

We are truly inspired by the Great British Cycling teams and appeal for your help. Fortunately, since we started the Go Fund Me page with our first target a generous and kind donor offline, paid for our flights, hotel accommodation, visas, travel insurance and transfers to enter the Olympic qualifier. Held in June at the Asian Road Championships in Rayong Thailand.

Our target is now reduced from £12,0000 to - 5,000. We still have costs to cover, like cycling kit, accessories for our bikes, bike boxes, transfer fees and luggage cases, go pro' to record our trip your donations will help with these extra costs. The fundraising also includes costs for our dedicated coach who is a volunteer and transport during the 10 days in Thailand, additional unexpected costs, travel expenses, and simple basics sunblock, like summer dresses, and sports bras we do not have. Having arrived in the UK as refugees fleeing the Taliban we escaped with very little and had to start our lives from scratch. We will arrive in Thailand four days before the time- trial to acclimatise to the heat and familiarise ourselves with the training grounds and roads.

As dedicated athletes, we train every day, wind, rain or shine we are committed cyclists. In our spare time, we both study English and begin University at Brunel in September. When we lived in Afghanistan before the Taliban take over, we were part of a professional cycling team. We are also cycling for all our team members left behind. We believe every female should be allowed to cycle, it is not a crime to play sports.

By being one of the lucky ones to escape, we feel a great responsibility to give other Afghan sportswomen and future generations hope that one day, all girls can play sport.

Participating in the time trial in Thailand will be a significant step towards our ultimate goal; To qualify for the Paris Olympics, in 2024.

Please kindly donate whatever you can generously afford. Without your donations, we will not be able to enter the Olympic Qualifier.

"Your generous donation will always be remembered.

Update: 10th July A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO DONATED.

We reached our target thanks to combined donations received from donors offline and go fund me. We are proud and delighted to have participated in the Time Trial and Road Race we couldn't have achieved this without your kind donations and support. We are now looking forward to the next stage - competing for our place in the UCI World Championships from August 3rd to the 13th.

UPDATE 1ST AUGUST.

Please continue to support us. We need to raise a further £2,400 towards costs for Glasgow race participation This includes flights and transfers, kit hotel accommodation, food, our coach training fees and travel.

A generous donor has offered to match £5,000 if we reach our Go Fund Me - £5,000 target. To go towards our university education fund.

Thank you, everyone.

Please join us on our journey, and follow our story.

Visit our website www.thewarriorcyclists.com

Instagram the_warriors_cyclists

Thank you,

Mina and Arefa