Killing Fields refugee gives back

Solary Ha has been inspired by the work the Red Cross has been doing in Cambodia. Photo / Jason Oxenham

She's not a cyclist, but a woman who came to New Zealand as a refugee baby is embarking on a 12-day cycling fundraiser in Cambodia.

Solary Ha, 28, was born in a refugee camp in Thailand after her parents fled the Pol Pot regime in Cambodia. They then moved to Auckland, where Mrs Ha grew up and now works as a human resources adviser. The mother of one from Mt Wellington has never been to Cambodia or met relatives, including her grandmother.

"A lot of what I heard about Cambodia are horror stories from my parents, but I really want to make my own impression of the place," Mrs Ha said. "The biggest highlight of this trip will be to see my grandmother, who has said she cannot die in peace without seeing me, her eldest granddaughter."

Her Sydney-based sister, Anna Khun, will also be going for the cycling adventure in October with a group of 18 others to fundraise for the New Zealand Red Cross.

The funds would be used to help "communities devastated by emergencies, conflicts and disasters", the organisation said.

Mrs Ha had never cycled or done much exercise, but is now training regularly and "eating healthy".

"Hopefully with all the training, I'll be good enough by October."

Starting at Cambodia's capital, Phnom Penh, the journey will take her through towns and villages including Battambang, where her grandmother lives, and finish in her mother's hometown of Siem Reap.

Mrs Ha said she personally had not received any aid from the Red Cross but was motivated by what the organisation had been doing for Cambodia, which suffered much devastation under Pol Pot.

"I want to do whatever little I can to help it."

Mrs Ha and her sister have set up a webpage to help with their fundraising and so far have about $1500. The Red Cross set a $3500 fundraising target for each participant, on top of the $5320 registration and travel costs.

Cambodia challenge
271km from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap
12 days of cycling, community work and cultural exchange
20 participants
$3500 fundraising target for each participant
Source: NZ Red Cross