Gibbo's Enduro Africa

Motorcycles have played a huge part in my life for over 40 years. Whether riding with friends, touring abroad, racing on tarmac or struggling on the dirt, I just can’t get enough. Most of my closest friends are biking friends and my wife
Sophie and children Sam and Bonnie also ride (that’s probably due to pressure from me)!
When I’m not riding I’m either reading bike magazines or in the garage working on a bike. Yes, the word is obsession! After all this fun its time for some Pay-Back!
"Riders" is a charity set up by Motorcyclists, supported by many top racers, their teams and thousands of ordinary people like me, raising money to provide support for people in impoverished and isolated areas of Africa.
One such scheme provides bikes to health workers together with a training package which enables them to carry out their own servicing and basic repairs to the motorbike. These machines can carry vital basic health services, such as inoculations, into areas where other vehicles would find the lack of basic roads a real barrier.
In 2005 "Riders" announced a scheme called ‘Enduro Africa’. To take part you must raise £4500 to pay for a Bike and training package. The enticement or challenge, depending on confidence and ability, is the chance to ride 3000km across Africa to hand the machine over to "Riders" for them to deliver to its user.
The whole trip takes 14 days so that’s an average of 250km per day on a dirt bike you’ve never been on before, over poor or unmade roads you’ve never seen before. Temperatures range from -5 to 30 + degrees. To me that sounds like a challenge.
The first Enduro Africa takes place in November 2007 and I’m delighted to say I have been accepted for Nov’2007, what a fantastic way to celebrate my 50th birthday!
Now all I have to do is raise £4500! The money has to be collected and paid in by Sept 2007.
I will be holding an Auction of Promises, there will be Live Music nights with top local bands and I will be chasing individual and business sponsorship.
If you would like further information, wish to help with any of the above or have other ideas such as holding a sponsored event of your own please call me on 01692 538 382.

Thank you,
Keith (Gibbo)