This article is from page 68 of the 2008-08-05 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 68 JPG
THIS week, east Clare will become the first leg on a journey which will end in the heat of the African bush.
A bunch of brave bikers will risk saddle-sores and other discomforts on aride of 1500 kilometres to raise money for children’s charities on the Enduro Africa run.
Clare biker, Mikey Bergin is kick- starting his journey with a final fund- raising run on August 9.
He hopes to be joined by 99 other bikers who will each make a donation
to take part in a ride which will take the participants across the bridge in Westbury, through Corbally, Ard- nacrusha and on to Killaloe, through east Clare to Ennis and finally on to Miltown Malbay and Doolin, where he’s planned a party.
The African run – organised by the Ride For Life organisation – will take place in November and Mikey has spent the last year raising the Stg£5,000 necessary to take part in the challenge.
“With the money, we will buy bikes over there – that’s all been organised
in advance and when we’re finished the ride, the bikes will be donated to health workers in Africa,” said Mikey.
The organisers also guarantee that a minimum of £1,500 from each rider’s participation fee will go to the childrens’ charities involved, UNICEF, the Nelson Mandela Chil- drens’ Fund and the Prince’s Trust, with 400 riders in all taking part.
The trip starts in Port Elizabeth, South Africa and continues on a 1500 kilometre circuit.
Mikey has been “doing all kinds
of stuff to raise money. I had a 7/0’s night, a rock night, a poker classic – you name it. But I’m almost there and this will be my last event.
‘“That’s why I’ve thrown a bit of a party afterwards, with bands and a barbecue.”
Mikey, who has “been a biker for a few years” normally rides a GXR 600 but bought “an off-road bike to practice for this because a huge amount of the ride will be off-road. I’ve never done anything like this be- fore so I’m really looking forward to it. It’s a challenge,” he said.