Ride for Inclusion – Riding with Purpose

BACK TO NEWS | WRITTEN ON 29th October 2025

Ride for Inclusion – Riding with Purpose

Some challenges test your endurance. Others test your spirit. For Efrén Gómez de Casar, cycling across Spain with a neurodegenerative condition was both a journey of strength, solidarity, and purpose.

We hear from Efrén about how his Sprint X has helped changed his life and inspired him to change others...

My name is Efrén Gómez de Casar, I’m 39 years old, and I live in Toledo, Spain. I have a neurodegenerative condition called cerebellar ataxia. Despite this — or perhaps because of it — sport has become an essential part of my life.

This summer, I took part in a very special challenge: Reconquista tus metas, the 2025 edition of the social and inclusive project Desafío Inmortales. Over 9 stages, we cycled from Covadonga to Granada, riding an average of 133 km (83 miles) per day, with a clear message: neuromuscular diseases exist, they deserve visibility, and people living with them — and those of us living with disabilities — also want to be active members of society.

I did it riding my ICE Sprint X with Shimano EP8 motor, which has been far more than just a mobility device — it has become a symbol of freedom, empowerment, and motivation. Thanks to this trike, I was able to take part in a physical challenge I shared with my friends Jorge, Raquel, Juan Luis, David, Marco, and Cosme, over nine unforgettable days.

Desafío Inmortales is a non-profit association that aims to break down physical, mental, and social barriers through inclusive sport. We organize solidarity-based challenges like this to raise awareness about rare diseases, create community, and prove that inclusion is possible when there is both will and action.

Along the way, in addition to cycling, we were joined by people with and without disabilities, connected with local organizations, and hosted what we call “social runs” — inclusive events where anyone could join the movement. Seeing others inspired by what we were doing was the most valuable reward of the whole journey.

Because we don’t want to merely survive. We want to live, not just survive.

Our solidarity challenge is not only about sport — it always includes a tangible goal to benefit others. This year, our goal is to acquire two Joëlette chairs, so that people with reduced mobility can take part in races and outdoor activities in an inclusive way. Thanks to the donations we’ve received through our website, we are very close to reaching that goal.

Our philosophy is clear: helping ourselves to help others. We try to combine our passion for sport with our desire to make a difference. And when that happens as a team, it becomes even more powerful.

I truly believe that if even one person decides to move, come out of isolation, return to sport, or try a trike after reading this article, then sharing my story will have been worthwhile.