Peter MacLeod Gives a Little Bit Back

Our fantastic ambassador Peter MacLeod talked about his involvement with Transaid in the Autumn 17 issue of Logistics International Pro. You can find the original article here or read it below:

As editor of leading UK publication SHD Logistics for 11 years until relatively recently, I had it all. International travel, invitations to fine restaurants, tours of some of the world’s greatest warehouses, and one-on-ones with household-name industrialists… The beginning and end of my privileged existence was contained within one self-centred bubble.

Then, during a conference in Liverpool, I was struck by a bolt of lightning in the form of three lovely people from international development organisation Transaid who, together with a bottle of wine (sponsored by SHD!) persuaded me to take part in a fundraising cycle challenge across the foothills of Kilimanjaro.

Transaid transforms lives through safe, available, and sustainable transport in sub-Saharan Africa, and it draws on the transport & logistics industry to support its programmes through fundraising, seconding personnel and equipment to its programmes, and through sharing of knowledge.

“It was a memorable, life-enhancing ride, and one that persuaded me to throw my hat fully into Transaid’s ring by becoming an ambassador.”

For me to raise sufficient funds to support my cycle challenge, I had to increase my knowledge of Transaid’s work. This started to get under my skin, as I saw what a difference Transaid’s intervention can make in these regions, particularly in the realms of HG and forklift driver training. It struck me that hithertho I had merely been using my position as editor to support Transaid whilst not actually investing any personal energy.

That all changed when I hit the dust in Tanzania! It was a memorable, life-enhancing ride, and one that persuaded me to throw my hat fully into Transaid’s ring by becoming an ambassador. I am now embedded as a volunteer within Transaid, and participate in many of its activities, helping to persuade the UK logistics industry to give somersetting back to those who have to perform to similar standards but without the infrastructure and support we have grown accustomed to in Europe.

I urge you to engage with Transaid – I did, and it was one of the best decisions I’ve made in my life.

Peter MacLeod

Director of PR, Adfield