The Sisterhood Rickshaw Rally raises money to support women’s education and health in India

Rickshaws used in last year's race and (inset) Carly Osman-Holme — Rickshaws used in last year’s race and (inset) Carly Osman-Holme

An adventurous Enfield woman is preparing to embark on a 745-mile journey across India – in a rickshaw.

The Sisterhood Rickshaw Rally, which coincides with International Women’s Day (IWD), raises money for good causes supporting women’s education and maternal health in India, with 40 participants travelling across the country over seven days.

Carly Osman-Holme went through seven driving instructors and needed five attempts to pass her driving test but that has not deterred her from taking part.

Carly told the Dispatch that she wanted to do something different for this year’s IWD. “I don’t really love driving so I am questioning my decision,” she admitted. “But I thought, let’s do something this year that actually makes a difference on the global level.

“I saw it [the Sisterhood Rickshaw Rally] on LinkedIn last year and I got fomo [fear of missing out] so I knew if they did it again I would love to get involved.

“There will be a lot of winding roads and I am sure we will get lost at some point.”

The 40 participants are all female business leaders and entrepreneurs, and Carly herself was named Women in Marketing’s ‘Creative Marketeer of the Year 2024’. She specialises in helping female-led brands grow beyond their original audiences and into the mainstream.

The Sisterhood Rickshaw Rally 2026 aims to raise £150,000 for education, skills training, and maternal health projects across India.

The rally kicks off in Chennai on Monday, 2nd March and will see participants “navigate chaotic traffic, unpredictable weather and challenging terrain” as they travel across southern India, stopping in Bangalore, Mysore, Mangalore and Panaji before reaching Goa.

The journey is designed to “test resilience, teamwork and endurance” while raising funds for initiatives creating long-term opportunities for women and girls.

Carly added: “International Women’s Day can sometimes feel reduced to cupcakes and corporate slogans. This is the opposite of that. This is about action – showing what happens when women step forward, take risks, and use their platforms to make a genuine difference in the lives of other women and girls.”

Women-led brands represented in the challenge include Great British Entrepreneur Awards, Killing Kittens, Ideas Fest, Think Tank Academy, Beyond Beautiful and Karma Group.

To sponsor Carly and the other Sisterhood Rickshaw Rally participants:
Visit fundraiser.bhumiusa.org/page/SisterhoodRally2026

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