Farm Africa fundraiser reaches Cape Town after 12,000km charity ride
13 October 2013
Fearless Farm Africa fundraiser Jack White cycled into Cape Town this afternoon at the end of an epic fundraising bike ride that has taken him through thirteen countries in six months.
Having set off from under the shades of the pyramids in Cairo, Jack chose Cape Town’s iconic Table Mountain as the backdrop for the finishing point of a challenge that has so far raised almost £9,500 for Farm Africa.
The trip
The Barnard Castle man set off from under the pyramids outside Cairo in early April. Since then he has peddled his way through a staggering 13 African countries, pushing and cajoling his bike - ‘George’ - past the ruins in Luxor, across the deserts of Sudan in blistering heat, and towering mountain passes in Ethiopia. He’s had to deal with natural frontiers, crossing Lake Nasser and the Zambezi on ferries. And he’s had to cope with challenges of a more man-made nature, including being robbed in Zambia and suffering food poisoning after a breakfast of offal in Uganda.
In Tanzania he took time off from the physical exertion of the bike, only to trot up to the summit of the world’s tallest freestanding mountain, Mt Kilimanjaro in just four and a half days. Getting to the top of Africa’s highest mountain, which stands at 5,895 metres above sea level, is no easy feat and is the equivalent of scaling Big Ben 61 times.
Fundraising supremo
He originally set himself a fundraising target of £6,000 for the trip. But such was the response from friends and family to his incredible endeavour, he quickly had to revise that target up to £10,000. He has raised almost £9,500 so far and is hoping that he will cross the £10,000 mark after the successful completion of his trip.
Before setting off on his trip, Jack explained what it was about Farm Africa that made him so determined to raise money for us:
“While it was a difficult decision to leave my job and life in the UK, the choice of charitable recipient for my efforts was not.Although Africa struggles with famine, it possesses 60% of the world’s uncultivated crop land and has a huge capacity for development. That’s where Farm Africa comes in; they work with local farmers to pioneer techniques that boost harvest, reduce poverty, and sustain natural resources. By reducing poverty and hunger, they aim to end Africa’s need for aid. I truly believe in the work carried out by Farm Africa”
It’s not too late to sponsor Jack for his incredible feat of endurance in making it to Cape Town.
Why not check out some of the media coverage Jack's cycle has received in the Northern Echo.
You can also follow Jack via his blog and on Twitter:
You can also follow Jack’s progress on Twitter: @CairoToCape
