Enduro Africa 2008

Final Update April 2009

2009-04-05T10:39:00.006Z

Dear Friends,

I have now finally completed the disbursement of all the money raised for Enduro Africa 2008 - a grand total of £21,413 which I have distributed as follows:-

NUMAST Welfare Funds - £7,055 (handed over at NUMAST WF Committee - 9/12/08)
Riders for Health - £7,050 (handed over at MCN Show to Riders for Health on 30/1/09)
Enduro Africa (for Sentebale, Nelson Mandela Fund for Children and UNICEF) - £7,308 (final cheque sent to EA on 3/4/09).

My sincere thanks to all my supporters.

2008-10-28T09:52:00.004Z

Firstly apologies to all my Blogwatchers for not confirming my safe return before now! As you will now gather I am in one piece, slightly battered and bruised but still smiling.

I hope you have all visited the Enduro Africa group on Snapfish at:-

enduroafrica2008rideone.snapfish.co.uk/snapfishuk

which contains my photographs and those of many other participants in the Ride for Life.

I also hope that you took the opportunity to visit my Blog which as promised I updated on a daily basis (actually this was only possible with the help of my wife Keiko). I took photos and emailed them together with a daily update which she then posted for me. Thanks babe!

I made much of the fact that the Gold Team was the only group to have completed the entire ride in tact without losing anyone through illness or injury. It turns out that we had three casualties all of whom managed to continue in silence despite being in pain or suffering. Firstly, we had Andrew who you might recall from my Blog crashed on the penultimate day and had to wait for a tow to catch up with us. After three days at home he was sent to the doctor by his wife and was told he had three broken ribs and a punctured lung. And we just thought he was a miserable git! Stevie had a crash on day two and his arm was in a shocking state but he rode on. When he got home it turned out he had broken his elbow and has since had it pinned. And Nathan – he suffered dehydration on the last night but still rode into Port Edward on the following day.

I stubbed my big toe and that really hurt…………

Anyway, enough of my tails of woe. It was an amazing event which in total has raised over £300,000 for the various charities (and over a million in the three years it has been run). I reached my target and some and I am now in the process of collecting the final pledges so that I can split the total raised between Enduro Africa (for Sentebale, UNICEF and Nelson Mandela’s Fund for Children), Riders for Health and the NUMAST Welfare Funds.

Your support has been very much appreciated and my heartfelt thanks go to everyone who has helped. We have made a difference and that’s what counts.

Gold Team Video Show

2008-10-20T09:11:00.003Z

I'm home!

2008-10-13T13:31:00.001Z

I have now arrived home in East London after 24 hours in transit from Port Edward.

This is what greeted me!

To the Wild Coast Sun and beyond!

2008-10-11T17:16:00.010Z

This was a view from my room at Mbotyi River Lodge.

We left there in the morning for the last ride.

Our first stop of the day - a visit to the Magwa Falls, east of Lusikisiki.

Our lunch stop was in front of the field and a tractor.

Given the journey we have been on and the heights our riding has now reached, today's ride can only be described as tame.

Mostly dirt roads through stunning mountain passes and valleys, it only registered a mere tremour on the richter scale by comparison to previous days' rides.

This however did not prepare us for the "civic reception" laid on for our arrival which was far from the ordinary as is possible.

All the teams met up on the outskirts of town for a cavalcade ride en masse into the TO Strand Resort.

Police outriders with sirens blaring, Zulu warriers dancing and hotel staff singing it was enough to me grown men cry.

Many did as we all hugged and slapped each other in celebration at having been the only team to make the entire trip without losing any of its members.

It's been an epic ride in more sense than just the physical.

It's over now but the memories will remain forever.

None of us leave Africa the same as when we are arrived.

I would like to introduce more people from Enduro Africa 2008.

Pictured is our Medic Etiene who has patched us up en route and delivered life saving medical assistance on more than one occasion these past 8 days.

Our leader and Mike Glover ... who makes the whole thing happen.

By the way, Princes William and Harry will be joining Enduro Africa 2008 from Port Edward to back to Port Elizabeth.

Good luck to them!

From Hole in the Wall to Lusikisiki

2008-10-10T22:05:00.007Z

The accommodation arrangements hit rock bottom!

Bunkbeds & sofa beds.

And we have found our snoring champion - Pete Branson.

We have arrived safely at our overnight stop at the Mbotyi River Lodge near Lusikisiki after 197kms of riding.

The day began with a ride up to the cliffs above Hole in the Wall.

We then rode along the cliff track and spent some time whale and dolphine watching rather than joing the back of a queue of around 70 bikes being refuelled in Coffee Bay.

We then climb the hills and rode the farm and sheep tracks before getting back on to dusty roads.

Unfortunately two of our team took tumbles today.

Steph took a nasty fall on a steep rock outcrop as dropped down into a river bed.

She's ok and completed the day.

Andy failed to notice the road bearing right and over the edge he went in a ball of flailing arms and legs and of course bike.

We had to arrange for a tow and left him behind.

We had to spend time waiting for the team to regroup due to the accidents and the local children came to see what we were upto.

One old lady was overheard telling her kids that's these crazy white men are to kill themsleves.

We reckon Red Team must have been through ahead of us, hence the Old ladies cynicism, as they are all axe murders and as such.

Today has hard some technical stuff but mainly hard riding on dusty and potholed tracks that pass for motorways in the Transkei.

Tomorrow we ride for our final destination which turns out to be Port Edward and not Durban as we had anticipated.

This is Africa and you have to go with the flow!

Here is our team leader, Kevin Fisher.

Windy 'the Wild Coast'

2008-10-09T19:08:00.008Z

Today was a further test of the teams newly acquired riding skills as we rode the undulating coast.

Riding up steep cliffs and descending down steep valley sides and river crossing has left us speechless and totally exhausted.

We stopped for a break at a beautiful bay. What a view!

The last ten km's including the notoriously difficult minefield so called because of the numerous bolders were ridden in darkness.

We are overnighting at the famous village 'Hole in the Wall' named after the cliffs nearby.

Visit to the local school

2008-10-08T19:17:00.011Z

Today was our rest day but we did not rest.

First job of the day was doing the dobie (laundry to you landlubbers).

Next up was a visit to the Gojella Junior School were we deliver and installed blackboards and solar panels and provided taxi rides to the kids on our bikes.

The school choir sang for us which was fantastic.

Gold Team were very prominent in all the activities and it would remiss of me if I did not single out Alex and Max plus Gary from Blue Team for their work in actually installing the solar panels.

I took on a supervisory role: risk assessment; demarcations; tea breaks and dispute resolution.

We also serviced the bikes and made adjustments and repairs.

All in all a very busy day.

Tomorrow we we have another demanding day ahead of us although rumour has it there will be a race arranged on the local airstrip and a wheelie school.

More people from Enduro Africa 2008 team.

The Irish contingent......Mickey and Kevin.

Constandinos from Cyprus.

Everyone calls him Costa because they can't pronounce his name and he met up with other participants in the Costa coffee bar at Heathrow!

Very Wet Day!

2008-10-07T21:21:00.011Z

↑ My video diary. Click and watch!

Leaving the Morgan Bay for a new adventure!

First obstacle of the day!

The ferry crossing at Kei Mouth.

We have crossed the Kei River into the Transkei.

Now the pace slows up because of the roads and the terrain.

We have been warned there are lots of animals and children on the roads so we need to be careful.

The Transkei was an independent state under the Apartheid Regime and fell behind in development terms.

So now it is about 40 years behind the rest of South Africa.

It is also notably hotter and very humid.

We keep being told to hydrate. It is a challenge in itself to carry enough water.

River crossing in the Transkei.

Look at this Transkei panorama view!

Just climbed out of the valley bottom successfully I might add to see this amazing view.

River crossing no. 4 today.

I made this one and one other but I have had two dunkings.
I am wet and tired.

Today was just the toughest part so far.

What started with a ferry crossing into the Transkei ended with us riding in total darkness in all mighty thunder storm.

The lightening was streaking through the sky all around us and rain drops so large they stung your face.

But that's a fraction of the pain we went through.

The descent and ascent into and out of the Qora Gorge was unbelievable.
Words fail me.

Gold Team all made it through but Red Team lost a guy through dehydration.
That's all the news I have so far.

Green, Blue and Orange Teams were still coming out the gorge when the storm struck and I don't envy them their ride to the Kob Inn Hotel in Quigney (www.kobinn.co.za).

We have earned our rest day!

The only guys who won't be taking it easy are the mechanics who must now repair our distinctly secondhand looking bikes!

By the way,

I'd like to introduce some people in my team.

Max and his dad Alex from Edinburgh.

Grandad Pat who was awarded the "Spirit Award" yesterday.

He is 68 and still going strong!

Sisters sledge!

They are sisters Cora and Stephanie.

From Katberg to Morgan Bay

2008-10-06T21:32:00.012Z

Short break after gold group all complete early morning climb stage from Katberg.

We are in the Amatola mountains, it's full of wonderful view of high country, cliffs and indigenous forests.

This is a panaramoic view from the road up to the ominously named Hogsback.

The name of 'Hogsback' comes from the high rocky ridge looking like a bushpig's spine.

It's 10am we have been riding for 2 hours, so far no problems.

We are doing 280km today ending up in Morgan Bay.

Fuel stop in a town called Alice.

In Alice we are welcomed by local kids!

After long ride, we arrived safely in Morgan Bay!

This is a view from my hotel room.

COWS.

That's the abiding memory from today's ride.

Oh and the Green Team being awarded "Dick of the Day" for the second night in a row.

What started with a steep climb up a rocky moutain side;

the ascent and descent of the Hogsback and a truly wonderful ride though a forest carpetted with wild lillies ended with a heard of unpredicatable cows stampeding down the track.

One of the Red team collided with one of same and came off worse.

One of the blue team hit a cow which then promptly fell on her and damaged her spine.

She is fine and recovering in hospital.

Unfortunatley the cow had to be put down (No. There are no sexist jokes in this!).

Green Team where a mess today, getting lost and split up so much so they were still arriving as Gold Team celebrated well into their fourth beers in the bar at the Morgans Bay Hotel.

It was dark and raining as the last stragglers arrived but Gold Team is still in tact and Pat - the grandaddy of all the participants - was awarded the "Spirit Award" for his steady and dogged progress.

My body is still sore but only a couple of minor crashes today.

Having a great time!

Looking like a secondhand!?

2008-10-05T17:28:00.007Z

Spotted this on the fence where we stayed last night.

Would not have slept if I had known!

TOUGH.

That's the only word to describe todays 250 km ride.

Red group lost 3 riders one with a broken arm.

Blue group lost one also.

Gold group - my group - suffered two spectacular crashes both unfortunately involving me.

However, I am still in one piece, and so is the rest of Gold Group.

My bike is however looking a bit secondhand!

The ride today was fantastic.

Mountain passes and deep ravines and not forgetting that the day began with the climb up the 60 degree hill we descended last night.

We are overnighting in Katberg.

Not sure what tomorrow will bring except of course aching bones and muscles.

First ride on Honda CRF230!

2008-10-04T17:08:00.011Z

We rode into a stunningly beautiful lodge, Mansfields, near Port Alfred after 10 hours in the saddle.

Most of the roads were dusty as hell - made up of gravel and sand with enourmous potholes which the CRF copes with ease.

No one fell off.

There are sixteen riders in Yellow Group (gold as we've designated ourselves for obvious reasons!) ranging from Pat who is 68 and Max who is a stripling at 21.

All of us coped amazingly well with the varied and testing terrain which culminated in a descent down a river bed at 60 degrees.

We lunched at the Schotia Game reserve and were given a 30 min tour in a landrover and in that time we disturbed a huge male lion who was slumbering in a bush; saw Ostrich and Wilderbeest; Zebras, Giraffes and two massive Rhinos.

We are lodging by a river in an open bunkhouse - 10 of us.

My bedroom is on the hill!

Alex from Edinburgh has already declared he snores like a chainsaw (interesting analogy) but somehow I don't think it will matter as we are all well and truly cream crackered.

I suspect there will be more than one of us dreaming of the epic rides to come.

If today was a taster of how tough its going to get then we will need more than a good nights sleep.

Just had Poike for dinner!

A poike pot is a cast iron pot that you can use over a fire or a gas stove, and cooks beautiful stews.

Just Arrived in Port Elizabeth!

2008-10-03T19:13:00.007Z

After a gruelling 26 hours travelling we finally arrived at the Summerstrand Hotel on the seafront in beautiful Port Elizabeth.

Outside as we arrived were around 90 brand spanking shiny red Honda CRF230's each with a riders name on the front.

Mine was located right outside the hotel door and I found it within seconds as if that was our destiny!

I have been allocated to Yellow Group.

We meet for the welcome dinner and briefing at 1930 hours.
Just time for a quick shower.

Breakfast is at 0700 and the ride departs at 0800.
An early night beckons.

I am sharing a room with Kevin Lydon from Co. Galway.
I hope he does not snore!

Putting my money where my mouth is!

2008-10-01T15:49:00.009Z

For those environmentally conscious out there I thought I would just let you all know that I have "offset" my environmentally damaging flight from London to South Africa. Aviation (unlike shipping which is the most environmentally friendly form of transport) has a huge carbon footprint so I have used Flying Forest, an organisation that plants trees and protects forests for the benefit of communities in Southern Africa, as my chosen offsetter.

If you are interested in offsetting flights then visit the flyingforest website at www.flyingforest.org for more information.

This is it - here we go!

2008-10-01T12:45:00.003Z

Today is my last day in the office. Tomorrow I head off to Heathrow to catch a SAA flight to Port Elizabeth via Jo'burg. I return on 13th October. I am as fit as I will ever be, having trained for the London Marathon in 2008, and having undertaken some gruelling training on Salisbury plain care of Martin Chappell of AJP Experiences (http://www.ajpexperience.co.uk/) I am confident of being able to handle the challenge that faces me. Wish me luck and if you keep checking my blog I hope to be able to provide you with regular updates from South Africa as I go.

Before I sign off, I want to again thank all of my supporters. Without you this would not have been possble and together we would not have been able to raise over £20,000 for the charities that are benefitting from the Enduro Africa - Ride for Life plus of course Riders for Health and NUMAST Welfare Funds.

Thank you,

Mark

Many thanks.....

2008-10-01T12:43:00.001Z

To David Mearns of Bluewater Recoveries; Mark Brownrigg; C F Sharp (Europe) and Paul and Sam Keenan for their generous donations.

Training Day

2008-09-20T18:55:00.004Z

NAUTILUS UK assistant general secretary Mark Dickinson is pictured left and below gearing up for a gruelling fund-raising ride in Africa this month.
He spent a day of intense practice on Salisbury Plain ahead of a 2,500km, 14-day trek through dusty and demanding roads in southern Africa in support of five charities in Africa and the UK.

Complete Supporters List

2008-09-12T15:04:00.003Z

Nautilus UK
The guests and members attending the Nautilus UK BGM 2007
OSM
Norbulk
Anglo-Eastern
D1-Marine Engineers Benevolent Association
Chamber of Shipping Quiz night donation
V-Ships
Logbridge
Lauritzen
Columbia Ship Management
Northern Marine
Onchan Furniture Stores (Norman Quayle)
Northern Lighthouse Board
Paul McNally (of Andreson Lambert)
SINDMAR
AIMPE
Norwegian Seamen's Union
Mariitme Union of Australia
The Maersk Company
Delta Marine
Videotel International
Doehle (IOM)
Marlow Navigation
Robert Woods
Edmund Brookes
Carl Husain
Pat & John Duncan
Elsie Billing
Peter Duncan
John McCurdy
Russ Garbutt
Chris Rogers
Su Flynn
Nick Luff
Noel Cooke
Dickinson Family (Mum, Dad and my brother and sisters)
Dennis Ayling
Bob Doyle
Gordon Thompson
John Cameron
Noriko Tomita
Andy McFarlane
Mark Dickinson
John Cooke
John Brown
Jacques Bille
Cleo Doumbia Henry
Andrew Cassells
Yumi Arai
Liz & Lol Mercer
Yuji Ijima
Kevin Slade
Tommy Molloy
Mariners Park Estate Book Sale
Mariners Park Estate Curry Night
Ulrich Jurgens
Joan & Bill McClennan
Mr D H Dewar (MPE)
Grant Hunter
Penny Philips
David Precious
and last but certainly not least Nautilus NL

Total raised £20,112,28

We have done it!!

2008-09-05T16:58:00.003Z

My Dutch colleagues at Nautilus NL have come good with a donation that takes the total raised to exactly £20,112.28. It is ironic that it was Nautilus UK started the ball rolling nearly two years ago and it is Nautilus NL - the union that we will come together with in May next to form Nautilus International that has taken me over the finish line! Bedankt mijn vriends in de Nederlands.

This is it!

2008-09-02T14:28:00.003Z

I have just received the following message from the Enduro Africa team in Bath:-

'The time is nearly upon us for the 2008 Enduro Africa events, which without doubt will be our best to date, the SA team are so fired up to guide you through this amazing experience and the improvements to the route are yet another example of their ingenuity and enthusiasm in continuing to wow people with this ride. Whether you’re moved to tears in a local school, riding nervously through one of the several game reserves we travel through or up to your waist in water on a river crossing hysterical with laughter, Enduro Africa is set to blow your mind very soon!

There has been a superb effort on the fundraising and many of you are well over your targets already – whether you are just short of target, on target and treading water, or well ahead of the minimum entry figure PLEASE KEEP GOING. As you all know 100% of the money you raise over and above the minimum target goes direct to charity and this makes all the difference to the work Enduro Africa does – we always want to beat the previous year’s performance (and that won’t be easy this year) so let’s all go for it – the team are here to support you in this final push, for many of you this is your once in a lifetime chance to help the poor of South Africa and Lesotho so make it count!

Just to reconfirm since 2007 Enduro Africa has not been supplying bikes for Doctors across Africa, that was when we supported Riders for Health, the new charities, announced in late 2007 (Sentabele, UNICEF and the Nelson Mandela Fund for Children) have no use for motorcycles, so we have worked closely with the charities to move to a pure cash donation. All the charities we support are doing great work in SA and Lesotho and will be there to talk to you about the challenges they face, and the successes they are having in Africa during the event. They are superbly effective, transparent and ethical – thanks for supporting them.

It has been a joy dealing with you throughout the fundraising stage and it’s now up to the Enduro Africa team to pay you back tenfold for all that hard work. We will not be found wanting – and you can quote me on that!'

Maritime Union of Australia make pledge

2008-08-11T11:43:00.003Z

My thanks and appreciation go to Paddy Crumlin (National Secretary) of the Maritime Union of Australia for making a pledge to my fundraising which takes my total to over £19,000.

News update

2008-08-08T12:29:00.004Z

Not a lot has been happening since the Charity Fundraiser in June. I continue to pick up bits of essential kit here and there (what would we do without Ebay?!) and started a diet to lose a few pounds - I don't want anything slowing me down. Enduro Africa finally told me the choice of bike which I am pleased to be able to advise is a Honda CRF230 - a proper enduro bike:

I am also due to take part in some formal training with AJP Experience in September on Salisbury Plain. The training has been especially designed for Enduro Africa participants and will cover such items as body position, cornering, braking and manoeuvring at slow speeds and how to change the wheels!

Funding update

2008-08-06T09:34:00.004Z

The following friends and colleagues have made donations in the previous month:-

Grant Hunter
Penny Philips
David Precious
Paul McNally

My thanks and gratitude for their support!

2008-07-14T13:36:00.004Z

Prince Harry has been in the news recently putting his soldiering skills to good use as part of a rebuilding project in Lesotho onbehalf of the charity Sentebale that he established. Sentebale is one of the three charities that the Enduro Africa - Ride for Life is supporting in 2008.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/theroyalfamily/2269323/Prince-Harry-digs-ditches-and-plays-football-in-Lesotho.html

Curry Night a Huge Success

2008-06-30T13:34:00.005Z

The provisional figure for funds raised from Friday nights curry night at Mariners Park is £2000. Over 100 friends, colleagues, family and residents of MPE joined with me at the event and much fun was had. The auction itself raised over £600 with prizes having been donated by numerous friends of Nautilus UK and MPE.

AIMPE pledge paid up!

2008-06-30T13:30:00.002Z

President of the Institute of Marine and Power Engineers in Australia Terry Snee passes over a cheque to yours truly for £500 being the pledge Terry made on behalf of his Union made to the Ride for Life back in 2006. My appreciation to Terry and Martin Byrne and all my friends at the Institute.

Fundraising Update

2008-06-25T11:00:00.003Z

My thanks to Ian Ramsey-Lewis of Northern Marine, Captain Philip Day, of the Northern Lighthouse Board and Norman Quayle for their generous donations. I am now very close to £17,000 with 3 months to go before I set off for Port Elizabeth to begin my journey to Durban along South Africa's "Wild Coast".

Charity Evening Update

2008-06-25T10:33:00.002Z

Arrangement are in full swing for my Charity Fundraiser at Mariners Park in Wallasey where my union has its northern office. Over 100 family, friends, colleagues and residents are turning out to enjoy a Ruby Murray, and some vino courtesy of OSM, on Friday under a "big top".

There will be entertainment laid on, a raffle, stand up-sit down bingo (!) and an auction which includes a signed Everton football shirt and picture, a signed Liverpool football, a mini-hi-fi and much more. My thanks go to all those who have helped make this possible and of course to everyone who has donated prizes for the raffle and the auction.

Tick - done that!

2008-06-25T10:26:00.003Z

Although aboslutely nothing at all to do with my Enduro Africa charity fundraising I did my own bit for charity recently by taking part in a sidecar taxi ride at Croix En Ternois in France early in the month. At the same time I fullfilled a lifelong ambition to follow my dad and uncle into the "chair". It was a terrifying experience but exilarating at the same time and one I plan to repeat if I get the opportunity again.

Fundraising Curry Night at Mariners Park

2008-05-20T09:35:00.004Z

On Friday 27 June 2008 I am hosting a charity fundraising event at Mariners Park in aid of my Enduro Africa charity motorcycle ride in South Africa in October 2008. The money raised will go towards my target of raising £20,000 for charitable causes including NUMAST Welfare Funds. You are all cordially invited to attend (see below for details of how to get tickets) or if would like to donate any prizes for the raffle or auction then please let me know.

The evening will consist of a curry buffet and entertainment plus a raffle, auction and other fundraising (and fun) activities. Tickets will cost £12.50, which includes a donation to the charities, and are available on a first come first served basis from Jackie Wylde in the Wallasey Office (Jwylde@nautilusuk.org). The evening will start at 1930 hours and end at 2300 hours. The drinks will be on a BYO basis but I am also hoping to pick up a few cases of cheap plonk on a planned trip to France in early June so I might also be able to donate a couple of bottles for each table.

Nautilus UK members who live within a 25 mile radius of Nautilus House have also been invited to attend and with assistance from the Industrial Teams I am hoping that there will also be a good turnout from local shipping companies. I am therefore hoping that the evening will also offer an opportunity for company representatives to visit Mariners Park and see what an excellent job the Union does for needy seafarers and their dependents.

Marvellous Marlow Navigation

2008-04-21T08:19:00.002Z

More good news in today's post bag. Marlow have made a donation to my Enduro Africa fundraising. With everal other pledges in the pipeline I am confident of hitting my target but dont let that stop you giving your support!

Fundraising Update

2008-04-17T09:17:00.003Z

Döhle in the Isle of Man (God's Country) have come up trumps with a pledge of support. Thanks to Becky and Cliff for that. This takes my total to over £16,000.

Results for the Nautilus UK runners

2008-04-14T10:57:00.004Z

Mike Jess position 17888, time 4.47:06
Garry Elliott position 20017, time 5.05:39
Mark Dickinson position 21397, time 5.25:21
Steve Doran position 22126, time 5.40:32

2008-04-14T10:12:00.004Z

Well its over. We did it and despite swearing yesterday in front of witnesses that I'd never run again, today I even said to my wife that I might do it again. Reason? Although I don't know my official time (and hourly checks of the FLM website have not yet yielded the required information) I am pretty sure that I missed my target of under 5 hours. Out of the four Nautilus UK runners Mike Jess and Garry "I am injured" Elliott both put in fantastic runs to come in well under the 5 hour limit and Steve Doran and I soldiered on through the freezing rain to come home sometime later. All of us of have achieved something spectacular but that fades into insignificance set against some of the heroes & heroines that we had the honour to run with.

Its hard to put into words the experience - extremely humbling and emotional an event its most surely is. Seeing family and friends out on the course cheering you on and complete strangers extending their support is truly a wonderful experience. Memories of the pain (yes my ankle started grumbling from about 5 miles in and then growling by Tower Bridge) are starting to fade and in our small way the Nautilus UK team has hopefully made a significant contribution to the work of Seafarers UK.

London Marathon

2008-04-11T17:02:00.004Z

I still can't quite get my head round the fact that 11 months ago in a red wine fuelled bout of stupidity I agreed to undertake the London Marathon to raise funds for Seafarers UK. Today, 300 miles and 50 hours of stumbling/jogging/running later I can't say I feel any fitter and I have certainly not lost much weight (about half a stone) which seems a tad unfair given the effort put in!

With a mere 38 hours to go its water/pasta/water/pasta pretty much all the way until sunday morning when I will have a bowl of Quakers porridge oast (with salt!) and a banana for breakfast about 2 hours before the race starts at 0945. The plan is to run at a constant 11 minute pace (I have averaged about 10 minutes/mile in training but I want to take it easy) with the aim of getting home in under 5 hours.

Now the excuses. I have had a relatively injury free training period compared to my running mates. The odd blister and, when I started to get beyond 10 miles, also my right ankle became very sore. I am hoping it holds out and will deploy the Iburefen gel liberally to hopefully stave off a reoccurence. Wish me luck!

Videtotel International

2008-04-10T09:17:00.003Z

This mornings posting has brought a very pleasant surprise with Stephen Bond of Videotel International making a £1000 donation to my Ride for Life fundraising. Very much appreciated Stephen and this brings the total pledged and donated to £15,762!

Enduros Get together 5th April

2008-04-08T04:41:00.009Z

Last Saturday night I attended an event hosted by Enduro Africa to welcome the 2008 team and give us the low down on the 2008 event (the third EA event in as many years). In short it's the toughest yet because its more technical than before. Feedback from 2006 and 2007 events have meant that the 2008 Enduros will benefit from having a route which is focused on the hugely challenging "Wild Coast" which was the highlight of those previous events. Its all very doable (apparently) and more of a mental challenge than a physical one so I dont need to worry too much about not having any offroad experience worth the name. Editors Note: when they say mental they mean scary!

We also heard from representatives from the main EA charities i.e. UNICEF, NMFC and Sentebale. Believe me when I say when you hear these guys talk about the work they do and their gratitude for what we are doing ...well just lets say I felt humbled. I dont exagerate but I had tears in my eyes particularly when hearing about the number of households in South Africa and Lesotho that are headed by an 11 year old child. Also worthy of note is the work of NMCF and in particular the projects they run for disabled children and UNICEF's project to make sure that mothers with HIV do not pass on the infection to their children. I bet you didn't know that Nelson Mandela donated 1/3 of his presidential salary to establish the Nelson Mandela Fund for Children back in 1994 (unless you've read his autobiography)?

I also learnt that (thankfully) EA are putting on some off-road training courses in Doncaster and Basingstoke. The Wild Coast is going to be so wild EA are insisting we all get some training before we go and they have drafted in seven times Dakar rider Mick Extance (www.mickexstance.com) to provide it for us.

The EA team have also been riding to destruction 3 test bikes - a Honda CRF230 Honda, a Yamaha TTR250 and a C-XR230 CCM. The pointers all look as if it will be the Honda (for a start Mick Exstance is a Honda rider ) that we will be riding but confirmation is due within the next week or so. All three bikes are proper Enduro machines and not the farm bikes the other guys have ridden in the 06 and 07 adventures. Again this reflects the fact that 2008 is going to be the best yet and they needed a machine capable of handling the challenges the Wild Coast can throw up.

7 days to go to the Marathon

2008-04-06T15:18:00.004Z

Only 7 days now until the Marathon....not feeling particularly motivated or indeed fit enough to complete it but apparently this is normal! Pictured are my fellow team mates (L to R); Mike "Fit as a Butchers Dog" Jess; Garry "I am going to walk it in 5hrs and 20 minutes" Elliott; Steve "the pro" Doran and well me, Mark " I wasn't planning to run it much faster myself" Dickinson. Keep an eye out for us in our royal blue Seafarers UK running vests. My Race number is 39872, Mike is 39879, Steve is 39874, Garry is 39875.

Further fundraising news!

2008-04-04T16:16:00.003Z

I have been busy pestering all my friends and industry contacts encouraging them to dip into their pockets and support my African adventure. This week I have had some great news - Jackie Smith, President of the Norwegian Seamen's Union has pledged their support. Also, Ulrich Jurgens, who serves on the Nautilus UK Council has also made a donation bringing my total so far to close to £15,000. Fantastic!

Fundraising Boost

2008-03-25T11:07:00.003Z

My thanks to Liz Mercer, Lol Harris and Yuji Ijima for their kind support. This brings the total upto £14,162.

Getting Fit UPDATE

2008-03-25T10:58:00.003Z

Well the good news is that I am alive and well after an epic 18 mile training run on Easter Monday (delayed from Easter Sunday because of the snow!). I have legs like ironing boards and I waddle like a duck but I am sure the pain will subside. It is all down hill now trainingwise until Sunday 13th April!

Fundraising Boost

2008-03-20T13:36:00.003Z

Another big fundraising boost with the news that The Maersk Company have pledged £2000. Fantastic and very much appreciated. My thanks go to Mark Malone. This takes the total pledged so far to £14,037.

Fitness update

2008-03-19T10:24:00.002Z

The 2008 London Marathon approaches (it is on April 13th) and whilst my training has been intermittent it is vaguely on-track and in accordance with my training schedule. This Sunday will see me attempting the last and longest of my training runs i.e. 18 miles. I hope the weather will be okay and that my weary legs and lungs will hold out!

Supporters update

2008-03-14T16:39:00.004Z

The following is the current list of supporters who have made donations or pledged support: -

Shipping Companies

Anglo-Eastern (IOM)
Columbia Ship Management
Delta Marine
Logbridge
Lauritzen Fleet Mananagement
Norbulk Shipping
OSM
The Maersk Company
The staff of the Chamber of Shipping
V-Ships Monaco

Unions

Nautilus UK
The members and guest attending the Nautilus UK 150th Anniversary Dinner (May 2007)
D1-MEBA (USA)
AIMPE (Australia)
MUA (Australia)
Philippines Seafarers Union
SINDMAR (Brazil)

Individuals

Robert Woods
Edmund Brookes
Carl Husain
Pat Duncan
Pete Duncan
John McCurdy
Russ Garbutt
Chris Rogers
Su Flynn
Nick Luff
Noel Cooke
John Cooke
John Brown
The Dickinson Family
Dennis McIntyre
Bob Doyle
Gordon Thompson
John Cameron
Noriko Tomita
Andy MacFarlane
Andrew Cassells
Cleo Doumbia Henry
Jacques Bille
Yumiko Arai
Mark Dickinson

Grand total so far £12,037 with some pledgers still to reveal their generosity!

Fundraising Update March 2008

2008-03-13T15:26:00.006Z

My fundraising has had some major boost over the past few weeks following an article in my Unions monthly journal which I highlighted in an email blitz to my friends and contacts. I have now reached the £12,000 mark - only £8,000 to go!

My good friend and colleague Severino Filho from the Brazilian merchant navy officers union (SINDMAR) pledged a significant sum.

Cleo Doumbia-Henry who is Director of International Labour Standards at the International Labour Organisation has pledged personal support. Jacques Bille (formerly of ACOMARIT in Geneva) with whom I worked with on the Global Mariner campaign back in 1998 and Susanne Meyer from Columbia Ship Management have also pledged support.

Andrew Cassells from BP Shipping has also made a pledge in a personal capacity.

And my Aunty Pat has made another pledge as too have my Mum, Dad and siblings (I am the eldest of 5!).

My thanks go to you all!

Getting fit - update

2008-03-12T21:09:00.004Z

The training regime continues towards my aim of particpating in the London Marathon on Sunday 13th April. Last weekend (Sunday 9th March) I completed the Brentwood half marathon in 2:15:04 an average pace of 10m:30s which is not bad for a hitherto unreformed couch potato! I am hoping to maintain that pace in the full marathon (a big hope) and complete the 26.2 mile course around London in under 5 hours.

Lloyd's List Article

2008-03-12T21:00:00.008Z

My fund raising received a major bit of media exposure this week thanks to Lloyd's List which included a piece on my fundraising activities in Monday's edition (10 March) of the global shipping industry's leading daily newspaper. To read the article go to

Lloyd's List

I am hopeful that it will generate some financial support from the shipping industry.

Message for my supporters

2008-01-21T14:07:00.001Z

Firstly, I would like to wish you a Happy New Year. Your continued support for my Enduro Africa fundraising has been truly appreciated.
In October, between 2nd and 13th, my African motorcycle adventure finally takes place. My preparations are well in hand including participating in the London Marathon (supporting Seafarers UK http://www.seafarers-uk.org/) as a way of getting fit and losing a few of those middle-aged kilos. I am not sure which event will be the most challenging but if I survive the 26.2 mile run on April 13 I am hoping that 2,000km on a motorbike will be that much easier.
For those of you who have been keeping track of my fundraising via my blog (http://enduro-africa-2008.blogspot.com/) you will know that after nearly 16 months I have reached £10,500 with a further £9,500 left to raise if I am to hit my self-imposed target of £20,000. The official Enduro Africa 2008 beneficiaries are – Unicef, Sentebale and the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund, for which the organisers’ aim is to raise at least £300,000. The money will contribute towards charitable work in South Africa and Lesotho, including: Unicef’s campaign Unite for Children/Unite against AIDS, to prevent the transmission of HIV from mother to baby; Sentebale’s support for the most vulnerable children – the abandoned, abused, neglected, orphaned and ill; and NMCF’s commitment to help children and young people overcome many obstacles to living healthy, productive and fulfilled lives.
In addition, I am supporting two personal favourite charities – Riders For Health and NUMAST Welfare Funds. Many of you will require no introduction to the excellent work of my Union’s own charity but you may not be familiar with the ground breaking work of Riders for Health (http://www.riders.org). This unique charity supports health workers in Africa, trains them and equips them with motorcycles like the one I will ride in South Africa which allows them to deliver their crucial medical services to outlying and remote communities.
I will endeavour to keep you posted on further developments as they arise but please feel free to check my blog as I try to keep that as up-to-date as work permits. Hopefully, I will also be able to keep the blog active during the adventure itself providing of course I can get a signal on my PDA.
Again, thank you very much for your support.

The Christmas Spirit is alive and well!!

2007-12-14T16:33:00.000Z

It seems the spirit of Christmas is alive and well with two recent generous donations being received from Logbridge in Southampton and Lauritzen Fleet Management in Denmark taking the total raised so far to £10,275.

My sincere thanks to John Brown and Karin Halmoe respectively for their support.

Long Way Down supports Riders for Health and UNICEF

2007-12-01T19:49:00.000Z

In my own small way I am seeking to emulate the epic ride of Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman in Long Way Down. They like me are raising funds for Riders for Health and UNICEF and if you have been watching their Sunday night documetary you will have seen their visits to the Riders for Health programme in Kenya and the UNICEF programme rehabilitating child soldiers. For a short video clip on their work for these charities go to: -

www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/times_appeal/article2924976.ece

Dont' drink too much red wine!

2007-11-30T14:29:00.000Z

Drinking red wine is bad for you. It's official. I know this because having drunk one or two glasses too many I volunteered to run the London Marathon in April 2008. Anyway, it will help me get fit for the Ride for Life. I needed to lose a few pounds.

Recycle your old bike kit!

2007-11-29T18:43:00.000Z

Riders for Health - one of the charities I am helping to raise funds for by taking part in the Ride for Life in 2008 has launched a new appeal called 'Riders Recycle'.

The scheme has been set up so that motorcyclists can donate good used biking kit (apart from helmets for obvious safety reasons) so that it can be auctioned to raised money for health workers in Africa.

For more information go to the Riders website at www.riders.org

You might also be interested to know that Riders for Health has been named as one of the Christmas appeals in The Times.

Yahoo Group for 2008 Enduro Africa Riders

2007-11-04T08:48:00.000Z

If anyone who is reading this blog has also signed up for the 2008 Ride for Life there is a YahooGroup Forum available where you can swap information about your preparations and fundraising etc. Feel free to join up - the more the merrier! Link is as follows: -

http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/enduroafrica2008/

Supporters Update

2007-10-26T14:23:00.000Z

The following is the current list of supporters who have made donations or pledged support: -

Shipping Companies

Anglo-Eastern (IOM)
Delta Marine
Logbridge Ltd
Lauritzen Fleet Mananagement
Norbulk Shipping
OSM
The staff of the Chamber of Shipping
V-Ships Monaco

Unions

Nautilus UK
The members and guest attending the Nautilus UK 150th Anniversary Dinner
D1-MEBA
AIMPE
MUA
Philippines Seafarers Union

Individuals

Robert Woods
Edmund Brookes
Carl Husain
Pat Duncan
Pete Duncan
John McCurdy
Russ Garbutt
Chris Rogers
Su Flynn
Nick Luff
Noel Cooke
John Cooke
The Dickinson Family
Dennis McIntyre
Bob Doyle
Gordon Thompson
John Cameron
Noriko Tomita
Andy MacFarlane
Mark Dickinson

Grand total so far £7722 with some pledgers still to reveal their generosity!

New Charities to Benefit from the Ride for LIfe 2008

2007-10-26T14:14:00.000Z

EnduroAfrica, the organisers of the Ride for Life have announced new partnerships for the 2008 event (the one I will take part in). EnduroAfrica made the announcement because it wished to assist charities working in the region where the event takes place rather than focus only on Zimbabwe where Riders for Health is currently focused.

The Nelson Mandela Children's Fund, Sentebele - the Princes Fund for Lesotho and UNICEF will now receive support from EnduroAfrica. The aim of the event in 2008 is to raise £300,000 for these amazing causes.

My pledge, to raise £20,000 to be shered between NUMAST Welfare Funds, EnduroAfrica and Riders for Health remains unaffected by this announcement.

Getting my eye in!

2007-10-19T12:23:00.000Z

Pictured is my new pride and joy (a Yamaha XT660R) purchased (I hasten to add) on the "never never" and with the aim of getting some offroad practice in ahead of 2008!

Shipping Minister Digs Deep for Enduro Africa

2007-06-25T12:34:00.001Z

Pictured is (former!) UK Shipping Minister Dr Stephen Ladyman as he makes a generous contribution to my fund raising activities during my unions recent Biennial General Meeting in Liverpool. Dr Ladyman hails from Liverpool and is also a very keen motorcyclist.

Big Fundraising Boost

2007-05-31T17:38:00.000Z

Delegates and guests attending my unions 150th Anniversary Dinner and Biennial General Meeting in Liverpool in May donated a total of £1460.20 to my Enduro Africa fundraising efforts. A big thank you to everyone who took part and made that possible!

Off road training

2007-05-18T17:06:00.000Z

Although still some 18 months off I have been putting in some off-road training with my nine year old son Kai. We went up to Mildenhall Stadium with the Geoff Mayes MXTryout and had a sensational afternoon on a couple of Kwackers!

New Ride for Life Film

2007-05-18T16:42:00.000Z

Dear Supporters

Check out the new film about the Ride for Life (its in three parts)

www.cassproductions.co.uk/video/RIDE4LIFENEW01.wmv

www.cassproductions.co.uk/video/RIDE4LIFENEW02.wmv

www.cassproductions.co.uk/video/RIDE4LIFENEW03.wmv

You Tube!

2007-02-23T10:56:00.000Z

Check out the video on You Tube compiled by Michael Guy of MCN who participated in Enduro Africa 2006. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0A4xVW8Sjw

Fundraising update Feb 07

2007-02-16T18:55:00.000Z

Great news on the fundraising front; V-Ships of Monaco have agreed to make a donation of £1000. Many thanks to Brian Martis. This takes the total pledged and raised so far to £5,400. Only another £14,600 to go!

Great News - close to first target!

2007-02-09T06:26:00.000Z

With two recent donations I am now very close to my first fundraising goal of £5000 - the minimum I need to raise to participate in Enduro Africa 2008.

The Australian Insitutue of Power and Marine Engineers (AIMPE) pledged A$1000 and my cousin Su Flynn donated £50 which takes me to £4,400. A huge thanks to Terry and Martin at AIMPE and to Su.

My target is £20,000 for Riders for Health and NUMAST Welfare Funds so some way to go yet but with another 18 months of fundraising left I am quietly confident I will achieve my goal. BUT DONT LET THAT PUT YOU OFF HELPING ME!

A message for my supporters

2007-02-07T20:23:00.000Z

The inability to tackle the huge distances of Africa's rural landscape is stopping health and development agencies from making an impact on the continent's fight against poverty and disease. The unique passion and imagination shared by motorcyclists across the world allowed Riders for Health to envisage the solution to this health crisis.

Riders for Health grew directly out of the motorcycle community in the 1980s and since then they have been working on a solution to one of Africa's most pressing problems - how can health services which prevent and cure disease actually be delivered to the rural communities where they are so desperately needed?

The answer, of course, is by using well-maintained motorcycles. Easy to say, but hard to bring about. It's been a long slog but once in a while along comes something that really accelerates the process, something that quite dramatically brings the final goal of complete mobility for all health workers in Africa closer.

Enduro Africa is just such a leap forward. And it comes, just as Riders fro Health did, right from the heart of the motorcycle fraternity. In itself, that should tell the world something about motorcyclists.

On the Enduro Africa trip I will ride through some of the most beautiful country in the world - including the Drakensberg mountain range, where Ridesr for Health started its first national programme in 1991. Home of the infamous 'Roof of Africa' rally, the Drakensberg is often called God's own motorcycle country. I'll see why.

And before I leave to go home, I will hand the motorcycle you have helped purchase over to the Riders fro Health programme for Zimbabwe. A group of health workers and Riders' Zimbabwean staff will meet me to explain their work in more detail. After that, Riders will keep me in touch with what my bike is achieving in its life-saving work.

Will what you (hopefully!) help me achieve make a difference? Well, after Riders for Health got the first district in Zimbabwe fully mobile (Binga district, near Lake Kariba) malaria deaths dropped by 20%! Now that really is a difference. And so the Yamaha AG200 will save hundreds of lives.

Enduro Africa raised an amazing donation of £203,200 from the 2006 event and Riders for Health say this money will make a huge impact.

I know I will have a great ride and even more than that, a great, probably life-changing experience. I hope toi share that experience with all of my supporters via this blog.

Quick Fact

2007-01-25T19:01:00.000Z

Riders for Health 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. Their main resource centre is in the UK while their programme staff are all nationals of the countries in which they work.

Riders for Health is self-funded with no government support. Their origins are in the sport of motorcycle racing and successful fundraising at motorcycling events and races enables them to support their pioneering field initiatives, ensuring that motorcycles continue to save lives in Africa.

In 2006 Enduro Africa raised £200,000 for Riders for Health. In 2008 I hope to add significantly to the amounts raised. To help me and to help the delivery of health care in Africa make a donation using the link to the right.>

Cheque handover at Chamber of Shipping

2007-01-18T17:35:00.000Z

Tim Springett presenting me with a cheque for £105 towards Enduro Africa, being the proceeds of ticket sales from the Chamber of Shippings annual quiz evening last November. Tim said "We are delighted to support Mark in his venture. It's very brave of him but we're sure he'll enjoy it and it's for an excellent cause."

Latest News on fundraising

2007-01-10T10:42:00.000Z

Just had some great news from one of my trade union colleagues. John McCurdy in the USA has made a personal donation and a donation on behalf of his union - District 1 MEBA. Thank you John your support is truly appreciated.

Also my family and friends are rallying around. My Cousin Pete Duncan has made a donation and my Aunty Pat too. Thanks guys!

My MZ racing buddies are also rallying round with Carl Husain and Chris Rogers helping out with sponsorship - thanks mateys!

Total thus far raised is £3,950 against my target of £20,000.

The Enduro Africa Route

2007-01-09T20:53:00.000Z

This is the awesome 1550 mile (2500km) route in South Africa that I and 100 or so Enduro Africa recruits will ride in November 2008 to raise money for Riders for Health (and in my case) NUMAST Welfare Funds.

Total Raised So Far

2007-01-03T16:03:00.000Z

So far I have received corporate donations totalling £2,600 from:-

Nautilus UK £1000
OSM £1000
Norbulk Shipping £500
Anglo-Eastern (IOM) £100

And personal donations totalling a further £1000 from: -

Edmund Brookes
Robert Woods
The staff of the Chamber of Shipping
Russ Garbutt
Carl Husain
Chris Rogers
Peter Duncan

Bringing my current total to £3600 with 23 months to go - only another £16400 needed to reach my target!

A big thank you to all those who have helped thus far.

The Yamaha AG200

2007-01-03T14:48:00.000Z

This is the trusty Yamaha AG 200 that I will ride for 1550 miles through South Africa starting in Port Elisabeth and ending (hopefully) in Port Alfred.

The AG200 is basically a bike built for farmers and, so far as I am aware, is not readily available in the UK. The bike is a single cylinder 4-stroke of 199cc and has a 5-speed gearbox and is capable of pulling the skin of a rice pudding (just). Bore and stroke is 67mm x 55.7mm and it weighs in at 112kg carrying 10 litres of fuel.

Over 100 of these bikes will be donated to Health workers in Africa and be maintained by Riders for Health. Please support my challenge by making a donation using the link in the sidebar to the right. Thanks.

The Casualties 2006!!

2007-01-03T14:38:00.000Z

Today's edition of MCN has a double page spread on the November 2006 Enduro Africa event. If you neeed any proof that I have set myself a stiff challenge check it out (3rd Jan edition). Apparently, virtually everyone fell off a some point even ex-world motorcycle racer Randy Mamola. Most of the riders came away unscathed but some had some serious injuries including 4 broken ribs; a punctured lung; a broken right arm; a broken right tibula and fibula; a broken left collarbone (check - done that twice already and my scaphoid); a broken right shoulder and a broken left ankle. Nine guys did not complete the challenge!

RIDERS QUICK FACT

2006-12-30T12:12:00.000Z

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

2006-12-21T13:49:00.000Z

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

2006-12-04T15:15:00.000Z

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......

2006-11-15T18:20:00.000Z

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!)

2006-11-14T19:26:00.000Z

Press article November 2006

2006-11-14T19:23:00.000Z

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/

2006-11-07T19:18:00.000Z

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

2006-11-07T19:16:00.000Z

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.

2006-10-27T19:00:00.000Z

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.

2006-10-26T20:12:00.000Z

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!

2006-10-18T10:34:00.000Z

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!