UAE: Meet cyclist riding Tour de France Femmes to raise funds for leukaemia cure

Khaleej Times

6 days ago

What began as a personal journey of strength and survival has transformed into a powerful mission of hope, inclusion, and advocacy — all powered by two wheels.
Meet Imke Abma, a 48-year-old Dutch expat who has called Ras Al Khaimah home for the past 18 years. She's the only cyclist representing the UAE in a group of 16 women from around the world — ranging from their mid-20s to early 50s — who are cycling every stage of the Tour de France Femmes, which kicked off on Saturday (July 26) and will run until August 3.
But this isn't a race for medals. Imke and her team are not competing in the annual cycling race for women. Instead, they're cycling to raise awareness and funds for Cure Leukaemia, a UK-based charity supporting children battling blood cancer across the globe.
Imke, who is currently in France, told Khaleej Times that her passion for the cause was deeply personal — shaped by two life-altering experiences: the loss of her husband's young cousin, Dean Clark, to leukaemia; and her own daughter's life-threatening battle with a congenital heart condition.
Her daughter, Mary, now 11, was diagnosed at just seven months old with Atrioventricular Septal Defect (AVSD), a severe congenital heart defect that required urgent surgery. With no viable treatment available in the UAE at the time, the family flew to Singapore on the first flight available on Christmas Eve in 2014 for life-saving surgery.
'Thanks to the support of the most incredible community in the UAE, we found our way to Singapore where Mary underwent open-heart surgery,' Imke told Khaleej Times. 'She turned 11 last May and she's going strong.'
From fitness to advocacy
Imke's cycling journey began about three years ago as a personal fitness goal. Starting with local triathlons, she eventually qualified for the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships in Scotland through the Spinneys Dubai 92 race.
What started as a way to stay active soon grew into something far more meaningful. 'I realised I could do more with the strength I was building. I wanted to focus on inclusion and support — especially encouraging more women, families, and children to get into cycling,' she explained.
That desire led her to join Ride For Unity, a global movement using cycling as a tool to bridge divides and foster human connection. Through the initiative, Imke reconnected with Angela Bannon, a fellow cyclist and former Ras Al Khaimah resident, who introduced her to a charity ride for Cure Leukaemia — a mission that immediately resonated.
Now, alongside a diverse group of passionate amateur women cyclists from the USA, England, and the UAE, Imke is riding each stage of the Tour de France Femmes ahead of the pros. 'Some are ex-professionals, some high-level amateurs, and others simply passionate cyclists — all united by the same purpose. Many have personal connections to children battling blood cancer.'
Conquering peaks for a cause
To prepare for the challenge, Imke completed one of the toughest endurance feats in cycling: Everesting Jebel Jais. She cycled up the UAE's tallest mountain seven times in one day, achieving an elevation gain of 8,848 metres — the height of the world's tallest peak, Mount Everest.
Her dedication caught the attention of students at the American University of Ras Al Khaimah (AURAK), who produced a moving video documenting her mission.
Imke credits much of her strength to her family, especially her husband, Paul Clark, who works as a general manager in RAK. 'He supports me through all my cycling challenges. We're both active people — his passion is off-roading and desert marshalling — and we support each other in our sportive interests. I'm very grateful for his love and support.'
During the Tour de France Femmes, her husband and daughter have been by her side in a camper van, cheering her on every step of the way. 'It's become a family journey," she said. "A way of showing Mary that strength comes in many forms — and that community, love, and determination can change lives,' Imke shared.
Imke, who is also the UAE Hub Director of Ride For Unity, will return to Ras Al Khaimah on August 5. For her, cycling is no longer just a sport — it's a form of storytelling, advocacy, and solidarity.
'Research is urgently needed to improve survival rates for children with blood cancer. Cycling has given me a voice to amplify that message — and a sense of purpose I never expected to find on a bicycle," she said.