Self-help Africa, an Irish charity assisting communities in Africa with innovative agricultural expertise to become self-reliant, is one of the charities inspiring four young Irish cyclists of the project Bike Africa 2009 to make a difference in the plight of people in need in Ireland and in Africa.

Last weekend, the four visionary adventurers of Bike Africa 2009 cycled into the Soutpansberg area of Limpopo Province, on a daunting trip from Addis Abeba to Cape town – a distance of some 10 500km. They left the Ethiopian capital city on May 14 this year and averaged 100km per day.

The idea of the trip is to raise international awareness and financial support for several charities and also to explore the African continent. So far, the four, David Burns, Alan O’Dwyer, Brian O’Shea and Maghnus Smyth, are funding their own African adventure, while all charitable contributions are channelled to, amongst others, an agricultural project by Self-help Africa in Ethiopia. This organization is also active in Burkina Faso, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Togo, Uganda and Zambia.

When the four young Irishmen ended their day’s pedalling at Northwhich, just north of Louis Trichardt, last Friday, after having crossed the Beit Bridge border post earlier that day, they looked amazingly fit and relaxed. They were obviously well prepared for their African adventure and enjoying it.

They showed a keen interest in the environment at the foothills of the mountain, before the tunnels at Wylliespoort. Asked about dangerous situations which they had to face on their trip through so many countries, they just smiled.

“The only time we had any reason for tension was some 80km before Beit Bridge, when we were warned by motorists about the activity of bandits on the stretch of road ahead.”

Overall, they are totally impressed by the warmth, friendliness and pride, even amongst the poorest of the peoples they met in Africa.

According to their internet blog at www.bikeafrica2009.com, they have already raised 25 826 Euros for various charities.