DOHA, QATAR – More than 100 students, faculty and staff from Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar and members of the Doha community, participate each year in the annual Bill Brown Ride – a fun group bicycle ride organized to celebrate the memory of Bill Brown, a biology professor at Carnegie Mellon University and avid cyclist, who died in 2007.

This year’s Bill Brown Ride – the fourth ride organized by Carnegie Mellon Qatar – is sponsored in part by the Interior Ministry’s Permanent Committee for Drugs and Alcohol Affairs. The ride is scheduled for Friday March 18 and is aimed at promoting physical activity and a healthy lifestyle.

After gaining so much popularity over the years among Doha’s cycling community as well as the health conscious and those who just want to have fun, the annual ride, initially started to commemorate Bill Brown, is now dedicated to promote healthy living and safe cycling.

“We believe the best way to keep Bill’s memory is by promoting a healthy lifestyle and a better living through physical activity – something that was important to him,” said Jim Gartner, Senior Director of Global Security at Carnegie Mellon Qatar and Qatar Chain Reaction Core member. Cycling appeals to all age groups and genders which in part drives the popularity of this annual event. “We have seen a surge in interest in many cycling events in Doha. The Qatar Chain Reaction Cycling group has grown to over 350 members, and we are proud that a number of members will be enthusiastically participating in this year’s ride,” said Gartner.

The Bill Brown Ride is open to all those who wish to take part in the exciting ride. There are three distances from which to choose, each organized according to a rider’s ability.

For those just looking for some light exercise, there is the 26km (16 mile) loop between the Doha Golf Club and Lusail. For those looking for a more of a challenge, the choices are either the 46km (28.5 mile) loop to Simaisma, or the 68km (42 mile) loop to the seaside town of Al Khor.

Those who are interested in participating in the ride can register online. On-site check-in starts at 6:15am on March 18, with the ride kicking off at 7:00am. Cyclists are asked to bring their own bicycles. The ride is open to people of all ages.

For more information and registration please visit http://qatarcmudev.wpengine.com/3211/billbrownride.