Sameer Parekh

Sameer Parekh (AMBA) got 2009 off to a great start by taking part in his second Bike4Life Challenge in support of Focus Humanitarian Assistance, paying his own expenses for the trip to and through India. With some of his pledges coming from AMBA classmates and professors, Sameer raised close to $10,000. His first international Bike4LifeChallenge took place in 2002 while he was studying in Vienna. Biking 438 km in five days along the Nile River in Egypt, he raised $5,500 for Focus. During the latest challenge, bikers withstood temperatures of 30 to 40 degrees C., riding at sea level and coping with many long hills as they pedaled from 8:30 am till 5:30 pm for six days for 550km, from Mumbai to Goa. On New Year’s Eve, Sameer writes, they stopped early and played soccer on the beach, with three Canadian goals “putting the Brits to shame.” Other memories: seeing his first Bollywood film and driving in Mumbai traffic so heavy he was stuck at one traffic light for 24 minutes. Off his bike, Sameer is a Part-Owner and Manager of a European food and deli store: The Family Gourmet Deli in North Vancouver, BC.