John Mitchell Haulage and Warehousing’s Lynsey Craik wins 2024 Victor Simfukwe Award

During Transaid’s recent Showcase event on 27th November 2024, Transaid Patron HRH The Princess Royal presented the Victor Simfukwe Award to this year’s winner.

The award honours our friend and colleague Victor Simfukwe, a Zambia-based Project Manager with Transaid, who tragically lost his life in a road traffic collision in 2019. The award honours Victor’s legacy by recognising those who have made an outstanding contribution to Transaid’s mission over the past year. This year, Impress Communications kindly sponsored the 2024 Victor Simfukwe Award.

This year’s Victor Simfukwe award was won by Lynsey Craik, Business Support Manager at John Mitchell Haulage and Warehousing, and Transaid Ambassador. A number of people nominated Lynsey for her outstanding work in organising the Scottish Transaid Dinner, which took place on 12th September 2024, and which was attended by more than 300 executives and friends representing businesses across Scotland.

The event, which ran for its second year in 2024, raised more than an incredible £100,600. Lynsey’s hard work as the head organiser of the event has made the Scottish Transaid Dinner a vital source of essential unrestricted funds to support Transaid’s road safety and access to healthcare programmes in sub-Saharan Africa.

Lynsey said of her win: “I was both shocked and delighted to be presented with the Victor Simfukwe Award by Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal. I am honoured to continue Victor’s legacy and I would like to say a huge thank you to those who nominated me for the award, and to those who have supported The Scottish Transaid Dinner in both 2022 and 2024.”

HRH The Princess Royal also presented 2020 winners Benard Mpande and Sebastian Simpasa with their certificates. Benard and Sebastian are emergency transport system (ETS) riders who transfer patients to health facilities on bicycle ambulances. They travelled to the UK this week to receive their long-awaited awards, sponsored by BigChange.

We would like to say a huge thank you and congratulations to Lynsey, Benard and Sebastian, and to all those who were shortlisted this year- we are incredibly grateful for all your hard work in furthering Transaid’s mission to transform lives through safe, available and sustainable transport.

A full list of the nominees can be found below.

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Victor Simfukwe Award 2024 Shortlist

Asset Alliance Kayakers

The Asset Alliance Kayakers raised a huge amount of money for Transaid’s work while taking on a brave and slightly mad challenge.

Caroline Barber

Caroline was nominated for being an outstanding and inspirational leader who works tirelessly and passionately to promote Transaid’s cause. Caroline has exceptional programme and project management with excellent business development skills.

Dennis Simuyuni

Dennis was nominated because he has worked incredibly hard on Transaid’s access to healthcare programmes in Zambia, and has now joined the team as a Transaid member of staff.

Dr Haachile Moonga

Dr Moonga was nominated for working tirelessly to improve health outcomes for people in his district. Despite the challenges, he works with an infectious energy and positivity, introducing positive changes and new ideas. He also has a humility and sense of fun that is reminiscent of Victor.

Edward O’Connor

Edward O’Connor was nominated for his great passion for thinking up suitable transport solutions. He worked closely with Victor over a number of years focusing on community-based emergency transport in rural Zambia, and he has continued to pursue Victor’s dream.

Francis Ato Quartey

Francis was nominated for providing great assistance to the Ghana Professional Driver Training project. He is a driver trainer and continues to stay in touch with the other trainers. He helped with the standard development and gave a fantastic interview to support Transaid’s communications of the project.

Dr Gladys Moraa Nyachieo

Gladys was nominated for playing a pivotal role in the design and execution of research into the socioeconomic costs of motorcycle road traffic injuries in Nairobi, Kenya. She has a passion for road safety and supporting young researchers locally and internationally.

Grace Wahome

Grace was nominated for her work on several projects since 2017, often being engaged as a national lead and providing very high quality technical assistance to a number of programmes. Grace builds relations with a range of stakeholders quickly and easily and is widely respected for this. She brings passion and energy to all she does, is an excellent public speaker and is deeply committed to improving the lives of others.

Guy Heywood

Guy was nominated for undertaking a year-long series of physical activities (such as marathons, Iron Man triathlons and cycle challenges – including Transaid’s Kenya ride) to raise funds for Transaid – focused on donating multiple bicycle ambulances to Transaid’s ‘access to healthcare’ mission. Guy is a Transaid Ambassador and leads one of our Corporate Partners (Hankook Tyres) and is a tireless supporter of Transaid.

Jason Finch

Jason was nominated for his commitment to his work and strong passion for improving road safety in sub-Saharan Africa. His leadership in the development of the standard for HGV driver training in Ghana was exemplary and paved the way for more work to be done in Ghana. He built valuable relationships in the road safety sector and supports a community of driver trainers.

Jim Haldane

Jim was nominated for doing everything in his power to get the Transaid message heard in the UK and strengthen its activities. Jim delivered a powerful, heartfelt speech at the Scottish Transaid Dinner, he recruited a team of riders for Transaid’s Newcastle to Edinburgh cycle challenge (who tripled their own fundraising) and has encouraged several companies and individuals to pledge their support to Transaid through donations. Aside from this, Jim leads the Transaid relationship for the Malcolm Group.

Kevin Mubadi

Kevin was nominated for being a key advocate for road safety, economic empowerment, and security in the bodaboda (motorcycle taxi) sector. Under his leadership, he has helped improve the safety standards for bodaboda riders by promoting proper training, adherence to traffic regulations, and the use of protective gear to reduce road accidents. His commitment to transforming the bodaboda sector continues to impact the lives of many riders across Kenya, promoting safer roads, economic growth, and a positive public perception.

Lee Carnighan

Lee was nominated for going above and beyond in his job role after he visited Zambia in May 2024 with other corporate supporters of Transaid. After returning, Lee has helped to raise awareness of the charity across the Wincanton business to support the great work that they do every day and continue to help build on Transaid and Wincanton’s long-standing relationship.

Lynsey Craik

Lynsey was nominated for being the head organiser in the Scottish Transaid Dinner, once again raising over £100k for Transaid’s programmes. She has made the event even bigger and better with potential to carry on every second year raising funds. The event took many hours of planning and administration, contacting people and businesses to get their support. The two Scottish Transaid Dinners have raised more than £200,000 and she is an incredible Ambassador.

Maddy Matheson

Maddy was nominated for showing growth, courage, determination and resilience when she stepped up as the Head of Fundraising. She has supported her team, leading by example by participating in events, and working hard to exceed fundraising targets.

Mike Daly

Mike was nominated for “living and breathing Transaid” with incredibly humble and selfless support.

Mike Wilson

Mike was nominated for being a staunch supporter of Transaid for more than 15 years. He has completed the most challenges in Africa and has done many in the UK and Europe. He always prioritises these events and supports other participants by sharing his experience and knowledge.

Sam Clark

Sam was nominated for doing a great job of implementing projects, supporting projects, doing business development and supporting the programmes team.

Susan Tumuhairwe

Susan was nominated for her ongoing commitment to professional driver training in Uganda, and her impressive contribution as an ongoing long term partner training institute. Susan continues to make sure that the driver training that SWRW provides continues to be of the highest quality. She represents the project well at international events and now works to improve helmet safety in Uganda for commercial motorcycle taxi riders.