President Ersin Tatar welcomes two cyclists who pedalled from the UK to the TRNC to raise cancer awareness and funds to help children with cancer
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President Ersin Tatar met with UK police officers Ceyhun Uzun PC and Ryan McKinlay PC who cycled from the UK to the TRNC under Tanyel’s Smile Foundation to raise cancer awareness and funds to help children with cancer.
President Ersin Tatar said he was “very proud of the achievement” of the two UK-based police officers -- Ceyhun Uzun PC and Ryan McKinlay PC who cycled from the UK to the TRNC – on a journey that took them 28 days to complete, after having pedalled for more than 4,000km.
The President met Mr Uzun and Mr McKinlay in Girne on Saturday morning, following their arrival in the country.
Speaking at a welcoming ceremony, President Tatar said he was touched by the sensitivity and bravery by the two UK-based police officers, adding: “You were determined, after many months of preparation, to cycle to our homeland the TRNC from the UK. You pedalled here covering a distance of roughly 4,000km, over a period of 28 days, to raise awareness for cancer and to raise funds to help children with cancer. We thank you for your bravery and determination for a very important cause.”
Referring to the Tanyel’s Smile Foundation – founded by Ceyhun Uzun and his wife, Gülay, who lost their daughter, Tanyel, to the illness when she was just 16-years old in 2017, President Tatar said: “We will never forget the beautiful smile of Tanyel, she will live in our hearts forever.”
President Tatar, who wore the Tanyel’s Smile specially made t-shirt, said he was “very honoured and proud of the achievement” by the two cyclists. The President added: “It is indeed very important to undertake activities to raise cancer awareness and to help children who are cancer patients. I want to sincerely thank you and the team who accompanied you during your journey, with all my heart."
“What you have achieved is for a humanitarian cause,” President Tatar added. “Cancer can develop at any time, and knows no boundaries, borders or age”.
President Tatar also paid tribute to Ryan McKinlay, stating: “I am aware that alongside being a police officer and serving with Ceyhun Uzun in London at New Scotland Yard, you are also a renowned athlete who has won medals in many tournaments. I thank you for being sensitive to this cause, and for participating in this long journey to raise funds for children with cancer.”
Stating that the cyclists had also journeyed with the TRNC flag, President Tatar said "You have also given another message to the world, that the TRNC, the homeland of the Turkish Cypriot People exists".
Gülay Uzun thanked President Tatar, Minister of Energy and Economy Olgun Amcaoglu and the 60 cyclists from Green Peddal Club who participated in the welcoming ceremony in Girne, and talked about the work of Tanyel’s Smile Foundation and the journey from the UK to the TRNC.