Established in 2018, the Đại Đoàn Kết Gia Lai Cycling Club now counts nearly 50 members of various ages and professions, becoming a gathering place for sports enthusiasts and a platform for volunteer outreach. The club meets daily at 5 a.m. at Đại Đoàn Kết Square before cycling through popular local routes.
Founded by Miền after suffering joint pain from more than 25 years of mechanical work, the club began with just three cyclists. Membership grew quickly, especially from 2019 as interest in fitness surged during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Members now take part in regular training sessions and participate in sporting events, including the Ayun Pa Cycling Race, the Quảng Ngãi Provincial Cycling Clubs’ Tour, and the Gia Lai Provincial Cycling and Sports Federation Congress, which the club hosted in 2024. Longer group rides have taken the cyclists through provinces including Quảng Ngãi and Đắk Lắk, with a week-long Pleiku–Đà Nẵng route planned for the end of the year.
The club attracts not only adults but also younger riders. Club member Lê Hoàng Bảo Ngọc, born in 2012, said cycling offers enjoyment and a chance to appreciate the scenery, often passing landmarks such as Biển Hồ and Minh Thành Pagoda.
Community service is central to the club’s identity. Since 2020, members have raised funds for bicycles and school bags for students in difficult circumstances, delivered gifts to children undergoing treatment at the provincial Children’s Hospital, and supported families in remote areas during holidays and Tet. Miền said each charitable trip distributes more than 1,000 gifts contributed by club members and local donors.
Students such as Kha, a seventh grader at Chư Đang Ya Primary and Secondary School No. 1, have directly benefited. He said receiving a bicycle means he no longer has to walk more than 7 kilometers to school.
On November 10, the club worked with the Gia Lai Provincial Children’s Hospital to donate 500 gifts to young patients undergoing treatment. They also contributed relief items and cash to residents of Nủ village in Lào Cai Province affected by Typhoon Yagi.
Their efforts have earned recognition in the community. Musician Đặng Quốc Hùng composed the song “CLB Đại Đoàn Kết” as a tribute to the club in December 2024, and by March 2025 the organization was formally recognized as a member of the Gia Lai Provincial Cycling and Sports Federation.
Reflecting on the journey, Miền said he hopes the movement will continue to grow and that more cycling competitions will help strengthen community bonds, promote active lifestyles, and spread compassion.
