Open Arms Malawi is very excited to be able to offer you the challenge of a lifetime! How does cycling 375km through some of Africa’s most beautiful terrain sound to you?
Glide down escarpments with magnificent, panoramic views of glistening Lake Malawi. Pedal through remote villages in one of the friendliest countries in the world. Cool off in the shimmering waters or relax on the many beaches surrounding the third largest lake in Africa. Malawi is known as the warm heart of Africa, and this is your chance to experience the warmth and hospitality of the people of Malawi first-hand – all while raising funds for Open Arms.
On this six-day Cycle Challenge, which takes place in September 2017, you will visit the projects that you are helping to raise money for and meet the people benefiting from your challenge.
One of the challengers, Alex Gibson of Knaresborough, is no stranger to getting physical to raise money for Open Arms. This will be her second fundraising challenge for us, and here she explains why she has chosen to get back in the saddle to help the children of Malawi.
It's great to welcome you back to another of our challenges, Alex. What made you decide to sign up and take part in Cycle Malawi?
It’s a wonderful opportunity to raise some more funds for Open Arms while having a great adventure. I simply couldn't resist!
Will this be your first time in Malawi, and what are you looking forward to experiencing the most?
Yes, it’s my first time in Malawi, although I have visited other parts of Africa before. I’m really looking forward to the opportunity to visit the Open Arms homes, seeing for myself the work they do and hopefully meet some of the children they support.
What do your friends and family think of you taking on another active challenge? And what about your employers - I guess it's not the most common reason for people booking annual leave!
They all think I’m bonkers, but everyone is very supportive, and I’m delighted to say that my employer Cardale Asset Management Ltd, has already confirmed that they will be making a corporate donation to my challenge. I have persuaded my partner, Alistair to join me in the challenge, so we have the pleasure of training together.
In 2014, when you climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, you raised over £1,675 in sponsorship for Open Arms, together with your daughter, Emma, who also took part. Do you have a fundraising target this time, and do you have any tips on raising funds for anyone thinking of embarking on their first challenge?
Between us, Alistair and I hope to raise £1,400 (we’re paying our own costs for the challenge itself) but obviously we really hope to exceed that target.
Fundraising can be tough; you have to be tenacious. Last time, I used Facebook to keep people up-to-date with my training progress and encourage donations. I also put a flyer in my Christmas cards to let people know what I was doing (I climbed in February so the timing worked well) and I just basically badgered everyone to donate and encouraged them to leave me a message of support on my JustGiving web page. I also attached the JustGiving website link to the bottom of my email signature etc. to raise awareness.
This time, I plan to do all the same, plus hopefully to raise some extra funds by baking and taking the results into work. My work colleagues are hugely appreciative of a good cake or some sausage rolls!
Are you a keen cyclist? What training do you intend to do in preparation for the trip?
I’ve never cycled before (apart from hiring a bike at Center Parcs!), so before training could begin I had to acquire a bike! I’m trying to get out at some point every weekend, just to get more familiar with the gears, and then to build up some distance. Alistair and I have also taken the bikes into the Dales a few times to start getting some hill training in. The plan is also to make the most of the light evenings while they last and squeeze in few rides after work during the week.
The route from the lower Shire plains to the Zomba plateau is expected to be the toughest part of the trip, with several long uphill sections. Will you prepare for this in any way, and what do you think will pull you through the hardest parts of the challenge?
Yes, I have to confess this section worries me, and I'm sure as it gets closer I'll have a few sleepless nights over it. Hopefully with plenty of training in the Dales, I can do it and maybe even do it well. While we’re training, we’ll try and take in some of the challenging sections of the Tour de France Yorkshire routes, to improve stamina.
What will keep me going is the same as what helped me struggle through the altitude sickness on Kilimanjaro. On the climb, I took a print out from my JustGiving website of all the donations made and read the encouraging comments made by my donors. I can't tell you how much difference that made on a couple of quite difficult occasions. I plan to do the same this time. Also, we sang the Monty Python song "Always look on the bright side of life"... which is great for lifting the spirits!
The tour takes in parts of the stunning Liwonde National Park, with the chance of joining a safari while you’re there. Is this something you'd like to experience?
Very much so; I have been on safari before, and it’s an incredible experience. I can’t wait to do this.
Are there any other highlights you're looking forward to?
To be honest, I'm looking forward to the whole experience from start to finish. All my visits to Africa have been truly memorable, and I am excited to experience more African hospitality.
The challenge itself last ten days, including travel and transfer time, but there is the option to extend your trip and return home on a later flight so as to enjoy additional sightseeing adventures or explore one of the many wildlife reserves. Is this something you're considering?
Yes, we would very much like to, time and finances allowing.
When you took part in your very first challenge in 2014, it was a case of commit first... figure out the rest later! You'd certainly never contemplated climbing a mountain before, let alone challenging yourself to climb the highest mountain in Africa. And yet you conquered it with flying colours. What would be your advice to anyone considering signing up for Cycle Malawi?
Perhaps someone who's never taken part in a fundraising challenge of any kind before? I think the same applies this time too! I'm only beginning to realise now how big a challenge this is! But nevertheless, I'm determined to achieve it.
This is a chance to get off the sofa and make a difference to a child’s life - how exciting is that?
Yes, Cycle Malawi will be challenging, but that’s the point. Everyone is capable of far more than they think. Yes, it will be tough, for example, I’m already discovering the “joys” of saddle sores, but quite frankly, so what? Saddle sores get better. A child’s life is far more important than a bit of personal discomfort! On a personal level, achieving the challenge will be a massive confidence boost and a source of great personal pride in the achievement.
In case anyone's wondering, I am not a fitness freak, for many years I struggled with any form of exercise because of asthma, and I am no spring chicken either!
So my advice would be, don’t hesitate, just do it! I will look forward to meeting you on our challenge! Let’s make a difference and have the adventure together.
And if you really can't make the cycle ride then please, please, please go to Alistair and my JustGiving page at www.justgiving.com/alex-alistair, give us a donation and leave us a message of support to help us on our way. Thank you.
Places on this incredible adventure, which runs from the 15th to 24th of September 2017, are limited. If you are interested in joining Alex and her husband Alistair, please contact Judith Rudolph.
We are running the Cycle Malawi challenge in 2019, so please get in touch if you want to join us in this ride of a lifetime?
Your donation will help children in Malawi grow up healthy with the love of a family
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