RIDERS QUICK FACT

A sustainable reliable maintenance system for four and two-wheel motorised vehicles means that health delivery is never undermined by vehicles failing, however harsh the conditions.

Recent donations

Apologies for neglecting my blog these past few weeks. There has been further good news on the fund raising front with donations coming in from Nautilus UK member Russ Garbutt and in a personal capacity Edmund Brookes of the Chamber of Shipping and also Robert Woods from P&O.

In the Isle of Man Anglo-Eastern have offered support and the staff of the Chamber of Shipping had a quiz night and donated the proceeds. I've tears in my eyes. I am overwhelmed by the generosity of you all, thank you!!

I hope I will not let you all down and actually manage to complete the challenge in 2008. By all accounts it is an extremnely tough event and my New Year resolutions include (a) losing weight (b) getting fit and (c) getting some off road experience in. Wish me luck!

News from the 2006 tour

MCN’s World Superbike reporter Michael Guy is currently on tour with the first Enduro Africa expedition, with 164 other fundraisers. Here’s his latest update courtesy of MCN: -

"Three days in, 550 miles covered, four casualties
From the beach of Port Elizabeth on Day 1 we're now located 9,000 ft up in Tiffindell, South Africa's one and only ski resort.
The ride here has been momentous, it started at 4.30 this morning when we saw lions in the game reserve we were staying in and even after that incredible start the rest of the day hasn't been an anti-climax.
After some initial road work we were soon riding through remote African villages over 50 miles away from the nearest town.
The people are poor and their houses are small made of a mixture of wood, bricks and corrugated iron, but their smiles are the biggest you've ever seen.
The enthusiasm in their faces and sparkle in their eyes makes up for the fact that you're entire body is aching and it doesn't matter if you're the first biker to ride through the village or the hundredth and thirtieth, their reaction is still the same.
We soon leave the locals behind and start to climb the air gets colder and thinner and the Yamaha AG200 and I start to wheeze.
At 8,000 ft with another 1,000 ft to go the road gets even steeper and for the first time on the trip we're using first and second gear, you can usually pull away in third!
Unfortunately the number of riders is starting to dwindle and apart from obvious bumps and scrapes there are now four people out of the Enduro.
Day two saw the first victim out with four broken ribs, day three was carnage with a broken shoulder, broken wrist plus some other serious knocks that required ice packs and stitches and today the latest casualty is out with a suspected broken foot.
Apparently the going gets tough tomorrow and the first 15 miles are reckoned to take two hours because it's not a road its a trials section – we're up a 4.30 for a 6o'clock start."

Good progress on the fund raising......

Norbulk Shipping of Glasgow have pledged £500. Thank you Magnus and Elling for your support!

Me and one of my bikes (but not the one I'll be riding in Africa!)

Press article November 2006

ALL SIDES of the shipping industry are chipping in with generous donations towards a fund-raising motorcycle endurance ride by Nautilus UK assistant general secretary Mark Dickinson.
He is aiming to raise a total of £20,000 for a number of charities, including Riders for Health and the NUMAST Welfare Funds, by taking part in the 2,500km Enduro Africa ride through South Africa in November 2008.
Mr Dickinson will be riding a Yamaha AG200 across the country, which will then be given to Riders for Health to be used by a local health worker for delivering medical services in remote and outlying communities.
Nautilus UK Council members have already approved a £1,000 donation for his mission, and last month a further £1,000 was pledged by Jan Eskilt of the Norwegian shipping company OSM.
Staff at the Chamber of Shipping have promised to donate the proceeds of a quiz night, while deputy director-general Edmund Brookes has pledged a further £200 from his own pocket.
The Isle of Man shipping minister has also promised help, and Mr Dickinson says he hoped to be able to auction some VIP passes for the 2007 TT to raise further funds.
‘I am delighted by the response, and really grateful for all the support that is being promised,’ Mr Dickinson told the Telegraph.
Find out more, or pledge support by clicking on: http//enduro-africa-2008.blogspot.com/

More good news on the fund raising front! OSM have pledged £1000. Nice one Jan.

Quick fact: Bubonic plague is still endemic in Africa, even though all that is needed to cure it is flea powder. It is still rife because there is no means of transport to distribute this simple cure.

Quick fact: -None of the eight Millenium Development Goals (MDGs) agreed by UN aid agencies in 2000 mention transport. Without transport how will the goals even get off the ground? That is why Riders for Health is so important.

Good news. My fund raising is off to a flying start. Nautilus UK - my employer - has agreed to sponsor me to the tune of £1,000. Only £19,000 to go!

Hello, my name is Mark Dickinson.

I am 45 years young, work for Nautilus UK (the union for maritime professionals) and in November 2008 I will take part in Enduro Africa. Enduro Africa is a unique and challenging motorbike adventure in aid of the charity Riders for Health.

I will ride a Yamaha AG200 motorcycle 2,500km across South Africa over 14 days. At the end of the 14 days my motorcycle will be given to Riders for Health to be used by a local health worker. This will facilitate the delivery of medical services in remote and outlying communities.

The trip involves 100 motorcycle riders from all over the world tackling 14 days of dusty and demanding riding through some of South Africa's most rugged and isolated terrain.

My aim is to raise £20,000 to be split between Riders for Health and the NUMAST Welfare Funds.

I will post more information in due course. Thanks for reading my blog and I look forward to your support!