Release date: 29 November 2006
TRANSAID CHALLENGES THE INDUSTRY WITH ‘CYCLE KENYA 2007’
International development agency Transaid is searching for 30 individuals from across the road transport and logistics industry to take part in its 2007 challenge – Cycle Kenya - with the potential to raise over £90,000.
The event will take place from November 10-19, 2007, and will see the Transaid group cycle over 400 km across Kenya’s stunning Rift Valley, raising money to help people in the developed world benefit from safe, affordable and efficient transport.
Chris Saunders, Chief Executive of Transaid, says: “This trip represents an opportunity of a lifetime for people to see a unique part of the world and to set themselves both a mental and physical challenge, whilst helping to benefit a charity that is making a real difference in Africa.
“In the UK it’s hard for us to imagine living for a week without cars, trains and buses. Most people would find getting to work, buying food or getting the kids to school difficult or impossible. But this is the reality of everyday life for thousands of people in rural Africa and often where transport is available, its expensive, inefficient or unsafe, which wastes money, time and lives,” he adds.
Places on the expedition are strictly limited, and participants will be required to pay a registration fee of £299 plus commit to raising a minimum of £2,750 in sponsorship. This covers the air and ground costs, and will help secure more lives through access to safe, affordable and efficient transport.
Participants will need to train in the UK prior to leaving for Kenya in November, including specific cycle training and stamina building exercises to establish a good level of fitness. Classic Tours, the specialist organising company appointed by Transaid, will provide high specification mountain bikes in Kenya for all participants.
The launch of Transaid’s Cycle Kenya Challenge follows a similar event run in 2006, which saw 12 industry representatives complete a gruelling 460 km bike ride alongside Lake Malawi, raising over £40,000.
Those interested in finding out more information about Cycle Kenya should visit the Transaid website (www.transaid.org) or request an information pack by calling 020 7387 8136.
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Note to Editor:
Transaid (www.transaid.org) is an international development agency that aims to improve people’s quality of life in the developing world by making transport more available and affordable. It was founded by Save The Children and the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (UK) and works by sharing skills and knowledge with local people to enable them to put in place and manage efficient transport systems.
Transaid’s core work includes creating transport management systems for the public sector and assisting with the provision of professional driving qualification development and the training of driver trainers. It also assists with teaching preventive vehicle maintenance management and introducing local, low cost transport solutions including its innovative bicycle ambulance. Transaid also helps promote HIV, AIDS and road safety awareness and shares its specialist knowledge with the humanitarian aid sector.
Transaid enjoys strong backing from the transport and logistics industry and the active involvement of its patron, HRH The Princess Royal.
For further press information:
Caroline Beaumont at Transaid on +44 (0)20 7387 8136
James Keeler at Garnett Keeler on +44 (0)20 8399 1184
TRAN/103/06
