Harry’s Africa Challenge

Welcome

Welcome to my Enduro Africa 2007 web page. This site is all about sponsorship for my off-road enduro motorbike ride in South Africa for the charity Riders for Health.

After much planning and preparation the ride finally took place at the beginning of November 2007. Myself and four friends set off with 75 other riders to travel off-road from Port Elizabeth to Durban along the Wild Coast of the Transkei, South Africa. We all made it through with a few sprains, a lot of bruises, no breakages and some fantastic memories. We rode in sunshine and dust, rain and mud, across rivers and along beaches. We visited schools, game reserves, ship wrecks and even an engine museum.

I hope the photos in our album will give a small indication of what a fantastic trip this was and the lasting memories it will leave.

The ride was a huge success, with our charity Riders for Health receiving 130 motorbikes and around £400,000 (so far). I’d like to thank our two mentors: Kenny our guide and Eddie our ‘sweep’, Graeme, Billy, Paul and Nick and all the other members of the Yellow Team. HR. 23.11.07.

The Charity - Riders for Health
Reg charity no. 1054565	The Gambian government made history in 2002 by being the first African government to outsource the management of the entire country's health delivery vehicles. They have given the management to Riders for Health.
Ever wondered how all the medical supplies funded by charity reach the patients in Africa? Unfortunately they often don’t get through to those who are most in need. It is no good providing medicines, antibiotics, vaccines, condoms and other supplies to treat AIDS, malaria and other fatal illnesses if those supplies sit in a warehouse. In countries with massive geographical distance between supply and those in need, care workers walk for hours every day to reach their patients. It is common for villages to be at least a 5-hour walk away from a medical station or Doctor. Riders for Health works on mobilising the care workers and suppliesMore importantly, they train the riders in the maintenance of thier bikes so that this becomes a sustainable delivery system Riders has worked for over 15 years on the problem of delivery systems for healthcare in Africa. They work with ministries of health, UN agencies and other NGOs. The charity was launched by Andrea and Barry Coleman with GP rider Randy Mamola, and HRH Princess Anne is the Patron. Initial programmes were launched in Uganda and Lesotho. Within a few years, health workers using motorcycles began to reach their destinations – time and time again. Immunisation increased, disease outbreaks fell and when they occurred they were quickly and efficiently brought under control. Children received regular visits and childhood diseases declined. Nothing in the health system changed. What did happen was that vehicles and motorcycles were themselves receiving the care prescribed in the manual; in short they stayed mobile. The operation has grown to encompass Zambia, Kenya and Zimbabwe. Riders is self-funded with no government support. For more, please visit: http://www.riders.org/en/html/home.php

SPONSORS

I am very pleased to say that donations to date have raised over £9,000. My thanks go to the all the generous individuals that have sponsored me, both on-line and off-line, and the following organisations for their support:

		Mick Berrill Northampton

Sponsorship/DONATIONS

Thank you for taking the time to read my site. Please support my efforts and give generously. This is an important cause that is already making a difference and will continue to do so. This is charity work at the sharp end - on the ground in Africa and not a large high cost bureaucratic organisation. Your sponsorship really will help save lives.

Even though the ride has been completed, IT'S NOT TOO LATE TO SUPPORT THIS FANTASIC CHARITY. Here’s how to make a donation immediately:

To donate direct to the charity via credit card (secure payment) and benefit from gift aid please click HERE:

or via a PayPal account:

Or if you prefer o send a cheque, please make it payable to ‘Harry Rogers (Riders for Health)’ and send it to

c/o EFG, 24 Grafton Street, London W1S 4EZ

Please contact me with comments or questions.