SWD Fundraising cyclist pedals through Africa for charity (From Darlington and Stockton Times)

SWD Fundraising cyclist pedals through Africa for charity

2:41pm Monday 11th March 2013 in News

A CHARITY fundraiser is undertaking a six month 14,000km cycle ride through Africa to raise money to help tackle poverty.

Jack White, of Barnard Castle, is to cycle from Cairo, in Egypt, to Cape Town, in South Africa, through 12 countries in aid of the Farm Africa charity.

The 27-year-old, who has been helping to organise the Open Championship at St Andrew’s Golf Club, set off in February.

His trip will see him head through Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Botswana, Namibia and South Africa.

He said: “Africa is so close to my heart and I have long wanted to give something back to this incredible place that has given me so much.

“I sat down to research the big problems facing the continent, including disease, contaminated water and hunger.

“And at the root of all the problems facing the continent, trying to deal with hunger seemed to be the number one issue.

“I found Farm Africa and really liked their grass roots approach and how they work with communities to find appropriate solutions to their problems.”

He first set foot in Africa in 2003 while on a university gap year and he spent time on a teaching project in Botswana.

Since then he has returned to Botswana to work for a safari company. He has also travelled in Namibia, Zambia and Malawi.

His punishing training schedule has seen him head out for regular runs and bike rides and he has headed to the Lake District for mountain bike sessions to build up fitness.

The British charity Farm Africa is tackling hunger in eastern Africa by providing smallholder farmers with long-term skills and knowledge to help them grown food.

To sponsor Mr White visit www.uk.virginmoneygiving.com/jackcyclesafrica.