MAN Truck & Bus UK is continuing in to support the charity Transaid and in doing so sponsors a three-man team in the 2024 Cycle Kenya Challenge. This once-in-a-lifetime two-wheel adventure takes place from the 4th to the 13th of October and will see the cyclists cross Kenya’s central belt, cycling from Nyeri to Lake Victoria.

Riding a route described as “scenic but demanding” MAN Truck & Bus UK’s team of volunteers, comprising of Tony Jones (MAN Truck & Bus Fife) James Bircham (MAN Truck & Bus Stockton) and Joe Nkosi (MAN Truck & Bus Manchester) will cover 474 kilometres and in doing so have the unique opportunity to discover Kenya and rural East Africa well away from the tourist trail.

Marking Transaid’s 11th African cycle challenge, the MAN team, along with other riders from the transport and logistics industry, will cover an average of 80 kilometres per day. Founded by Save the Children, The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT), and its Patron, HRH The Princess Royal, the international development organisation shares 26 years’ worth of expertise in 23 countries with partners and governments – empowering people to build the skills they need to transform their own lives.

Transaid works in two core areas, Road Safety and access to Health, to solve two of the biggest transport challenges in sub-Saharan Africa. Transaid’s road safety work focuses on influencing safe driver behaviour with long-term programmes in Ghana, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia, responding to local needs for improved training for drivers and riders of trucks, buses, forklift trucks and motorcycles. On the access to health side, Transaid is working with local partners and communities to strengthen access to health services, primarily in rural areas. They are also working to strengthen health supply chains in collaboration with local partners and governments.

Over the six days of riding, starting in Nyeri, at the foothills of Mount Kenya, the route will take in Kenya’s lush, mountainous countryside, stunning expansive panoramas and pass through countless farms and plantations famed for their fields of fruit, vegetables, sugar cane, tea, and coffee.

Along the way the undulating route sees the riders climb towards the top of Mount Kenya before they drop down and pass through the Aberdare National Park*, where having entered “the bush” team MAN Cycle Kenya will get we get a chance to look out for the amazing animals Kenya is renowned for, in their natural habitat: impalas, zebras, giraffes, buffalos and more.

After six days in the saddle, the penultimate day’s ride arrives in Kisumu on the shores of Lake Victoria. Known in Kenya as “Nam Lowe” (Body of Endless Water) and appearing more like a sea than a lake, Lake Victoria covers a gigantic area of 26,600 square miles and has a coastline that runs for over 2,000 miles around three countries.

Of the challenging ride ahead of them Tony Jones said, “The opportunity to be a MAN Truck & Bus UK brand ambassador, whilst supporting a fantastic charity that is transforming lives by helping to provide a professional driver training programme, is going to be a once in a lifetime experience.

“As a keen cyclist riding with a group of good friends, I’ve covered over 1,800 miles already this year and raised money for both Maggie’s Centres and MacMillan Cancer Support. But this ride across Kenya with Transaid is special and I’m really looking forward to meeting the people, seeing the animals, completing the challenge and seeing the fundraising going towards the amazing work Transaid does.”

Joe Nkosi commented, “Originating from Malawi I’ve witnessed first-hand the tragic consequences of a road accident that sadly affected some close friends and their families. When the opportunity to ride Transaid Cycle Kenya and at the same time be an ambassador for MAN Truck & Bus UK came up, I knew it was something I had to be involved in. I’m really looking forward to talking with the locals, seeing the sights as we ride from Nyeri to Lake Victoria and further understanding the amazing work that Transaid performs.”

James Bircham added, “I’m delighted to have been chosen to join the Transaid Cycle Kenya Challenge, representing MAN Truck & Bus UK. It’s going to be a tough ride for sure, but this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity means I can support a fantastic charity that helps transform lives by providing a professional driver training programme. It’s going to be an incredible experience, demanding but immensely rewarding.”

If you would like to donate to this amazing charity, or know one of the above and would like to donate to their Just Giving pages, please click through to….

Joe Nkosi is fundraising for Transaid (justgiving.com)

James Bircham is fundraising for Transaid (justgiving.com)

Tony Jones is fundraising for Transaid (justgiving.com)

For more information and to find out how you can support the organisation visit www.transaid.org