Having played a significant role in helping leading pallet specialist IPP Logipal double its business in 2009, business development manager Gary Williams and operations manager David Bage will be taking time out later this year to cycle across Tanzania in aid of specialist transport charity Transaid.
They will join 40 other intrepid cyclists who between them aim to raise over £100,000 by tackling a challenging 420km journey over mountainous terrain and along the Indian Ocean coast of Tanzania. The expedition takes place from November 6th-14th.
The money raised by the ‘dynamic duo’ will go towards Transaid’s established driver training projects that are helping to reduce the number of accidents on Zambia’s roads – the third largest premature killer in Africa after HIV/AIDs and malaria.
Transaid is also working with local people in Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Mozambique and Ghana to help develop transport skills and knowledge that enables some of the poorest people in the world to have better access to basic services such as healthcare, education and employment.
Additionally, the funds raised will help the charity continue its important work tackling child and maternal mortality in Nigeria by improving transport access to primary healthcare. Tragically, 1 in 13 women in sub-Saharan Africa die during pregnancy or childbirth compared with 1 in 4,000 in the industrialised countries.
Gary, who is also a trustee of Transaid, is not new to African Challenges having raised over £3,000 in a similar event three years ago when he cycled across Kenya. To help encourage as many transport and logistics professionals to Cycle Tanzania, he is leading a team from the 900 strong Logistics Leaders Network to help get the message across that ‘a little help can make a real difference’.
He says: “We take it for granted that cars, buses and trains take us to where we want to go quickly. Lorries ensure that we have food and medicines delivered daily. For people in Africa it is a different story completely.
“When I took part in the Kenyan challenge I saw at first hand the great work that Transaid does, but there is also so much more that can be done that will help save many lives both young and old.”
Meanwhile, this will be the first event undertaken by David, who says: “It’s definitely going to be an exciting challenge and no doubt very hard work but if we can raise as much money as possible it will be worth all the effort.”
IPP Logipal UK & Ireland director and European vice president, Phil Storer, comments: “It is going to be quite a demanding event both physically and mentally but we are all behind Gary and David and will back them as much as we can.”
You can support Gary and David’s efforts by calling IPP Logipal on 01676 524000 or by visiting www.justgiving.com/transaidgarywilliams and www.justgiving.com/transaid-davidbage to make a donation.
If you would like to join the Transaid Cycle Zambia team, please contact april@transaid.org.
To find out more about Transaid visit www.transaid.org.
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