On the 4th and 5th of November, Korea Charity Ride(KCR) 2017: Busan to Seoul 530km was held. This charity event has aimed to broadly announce fundraising culture to Korean bicycle riders. This year, the KCR is one of the biggest charity riding events in Korean bicycle and leisure industry. Most riders were Korean, but some U.S and British riders, and two special professional cycling athletes come from Slovakia gladly with us for two days to share loves. So, a hundred riders of twenty-four teams participated in the charity event.

Interesting thing of this event is that KCR committee slightly shifted the rule of administration from "fee" concept to "donation" concept. They only accepted an evidence of donation to five charities that KCR suggested as an administration, thus, participants were finally allowed to join this event by donating money to one of the certain charity organizations where they want to help. And twelve sponsor companies and several foreign committees joined.

The meaning of a symbol of KOREA CHARITY RIDE is inspired by Love, Heart and Waves. I intended this design in order to spread our loves in our society. (Kyungbin Lee, Watts Cycling marketer)

The hundred riders started riding in Busan at 5AM and they rode 530km to Hanam of Gyeonggi-do through bicycle road. The route was started from Ul-suk-do island to Nak-dan-bo bridge of 270km on the first day and from Nak-dan-bo to Watts Cycling Hanam station of Starfield Hanam 260km on the second day. In the routes, the highest altitude was up to 3,000 meter, and the riders should pass through unpaved roads sometimes, uphill, and strong winds. Because of those, some riders got troubles of flat tire and muscle pains.

However, those hardships couldn't stop the riders' passions and charities. Finally, the charity event was successfully completed, almost ninety participants finished riding the whole distance.

"To be honest, it was too hard. Sometime I wanted to quit. But, whenever I wanted to stop this riding, I reminded a charity and the neighbors who are suffering. This pains what I am feeling cannot be compared to their difficulties. So, I couldn't stop this race. This is what I can do for them."

The Korean Unwed Mothers and Families Association is one of charity members of the charity event. Do-kyung Kim, a representative of the charity said, "I am really happy to be with this meaningful event. I am such a pleasure to see many donors who are challenging this long distance riding and to see whom are donors even they do not participate in the race. I am truly appreciated to Korea Charity Ride Committee. Thank you."

The Korea Charity Ride Committee is found by Kiheung(khg.kr), and fundraising money from participants and private companies by opening a charity event. Throughout the event, they support charity organizations of rear diseases patients, autism disorder, single mothers, homeless, and social minority.

We, Korea Charity Ride Committee fundraised about 40,000,000 Korean Won, achieving the target with national and foreign sponsors including the American Chambers of Commerce in Korea, the British Chambers of Commerce in Korea. It was true honor to be with them, and we are confident to make this world warm. Therefore, we will continue this charity riding event until this becomes one of the most famous and influential charity cycling event in Korea.