9:01am Thursday 26th February 2009
By Rachel Allen
Charity adventurer Sam Williams is getting on his bike to raise money for poverty stricken farmers in Kenya.
The 25-year-old, of Ashley, near Box, decided that one daring feat was not enough in a lifetime after completing a journey across the Atlantic in his boat Pacific Pete in 75 days, raising £20,000 for FARM-Africa. The charity helps poverty-stricken families feed themselves so they do not have to rely on aid.
He has decided to go and see how his money has been spent, cycling more than 6,000 miles to East Africa starting in London on March 27, exactly a year after he reached his rowing destination in Antigua.
The new challenge aims to raise thousands more for the charity, which is based in Kenya.
He admitted that it will be a mean feat cycling across Europe, then though the Middle East and along the banks of the river Nile. He is rusty at cycling.
“I think that the last time I rode a bike was over ten years ago, when I travelled what I thought was a long way, but if I remember right, it was more than ten whole miles.” Mr Williams plans to travel through 16 countries, and has planned a route that involves rivers such as the Danube and the Nile.
He said: “I’m using the theory that every river is fairly flat. I’m not a fan of hills, or at least going up them. I’ll follow the Danube right across Europe. Eventually, I’ll reach Mwingi, where FARM-Africa’s project is based.
“When I heard about FARM-Africa, I was struck by their intelligent and sensible approach to helping the poorest families in eastern and South Africa.
“Since then, I’ve been impressed by the people involved in the charity, and the fact that they all believe in the work that they’re doing.”
For more information, log on to the charity's web site via the link on the right.
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