Nearly 400 women representing more than 30 nationalities will arrive in Beirut on 2nd May for the fourth 'Follow the Women' bike ride, which winds through Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and hopes to include the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

Many of the riders will come from Europe and the Middle East, but there will be teams from the United States, Canada, South Africa, Japan, Tajikistan and Afghanistan.

The 'Follow the Women' bike ride was set up in 2003 by Detta Regan, a well known international youth work advisor and European Woman of the Year in 2004.

Detta says: "Women do not traditionally cycle in the Middle East, so the sight of a large female-only group attracts huge interest. I am thrilled that we are getting women from so many different countries joining us on the 2008 ride." The ride is aimed at raising awareness of how the spiral of violence in the Middle East is blighting the lives of women and children who often suffer the worst consequences of the painfully slow pace of the peace process. By promoting bicycles as vehicles of peace and freedom of movement Detta says she wants to inspire and empower women to take an active role in the peace process.

The organization of the bike ride is a considerable feat as the number of participating teams continues to grow year on year. The borders always prove to be a logistical nightmare; some of the Arab women riders are not permitted to enter Israel and the Occupied Territories but also the Palestinian riders need special permission to enter Arab countries.

Maintaining 400 bicycles and transporting them across borders is in itself an amazing achievement undertaken by Jawad from the Beirut by Bike Cycle Club. Jawad manages to combine charm, patience and humour whilst dealing with complete novice riders through to experienced long haul bikers, keeping the bikes in safe working order and ensuring they are ready for the next leg of the ride... what a man!

The 2008 bike ride will start in Beirut with the formal opening ceremony at the UNESCO Palace. The women will ride to the Sabra and Shatilla Refugee Camps before riding from Mount Lebanon to Saidon (Saida) and on to Tyre (Sour).

They will then cross the Lebanese / Syrian border and cycle in Damascus and Homs before riding in the Golan Heights. The women then journey to Jordan and take part in a Peace Advocacy cycle ride in Amman and in the evening they will meet Jordanian women and Iraqi and Palestinian refugees at the Cultural Palace. The following day those who are still able to sit on a saddle will ride along the Dead Sea before attending an International Evening there!

All being well the 'Follow the Women' group will cross the King Hussein (Allenby) Bridge into the Occupied Territories where they will ride in Jericho, Nablus, Tulkarem, Hebron and Bethlehem area where they will finish by visiting the Dhaisha or Aida Refugee camps.

Detta Regan says the 'Follow the Women' organization is very grateful for the patronage.of Her Excellency Mrs Asma Al Assad of Syria, Queen Rania of Jordan and in Lebanon the Hariri Foundation. Equally the Follow the Women Organisation is very grateful for the sponsorship given by the MTN Syrian Telecommunications Network which will meet the costs of the Syrian part of the ride, Bashir Hariri has promised to meet the costs in Lebanon and the Lions organisation in Jordan; without this backing the ride would not be able to take place. All the women participants contribute support to enable the Palestinian women to take part in the ride.

Detta Regan says: "It's sad that we still have not managed to get a team of Israeli women to join the bike ride, but we are hoping this will happen in the future."

So if there are any Israeli women, or indeed any other women, who would like to join 'Follow the Women', further details can be found on the website www.followthewomen.com.

Help women of the world unite and get on your bikes and peddle for peace!