Go Ghana Cycle Challenge - background

In a moment of weakness / madness / perversity / optimism / altruism – or more likely a combination of all of the above – earlier this year I signed up to take part in 400km cycle ride from Elmina on the Ghanaian coast to Kwahu Tafo, a large village in Eastern Region, high above Lake Volta and just 5 degrees off the Equator. I was not alone in this endeavour, as 19 other foolhardy souls made a similar commitment.

For the dubious pleasure of participating in this epic adventure we each promised to beg, borrow, shake buckets, bake cakes, shave heads, dress up, dress down and generally demand money with or without menaces from friends, relatives, work colleagues and strangers on buses to raise £3000 both to cover our travel costs* and leave a sizeable sum for the charity that came up with the bright idea in the first place, Friends of Tafo (FoT). (*My own generous sponsors may rest assured that all their money has gone to charity and not a penny to my travel costs.)

Set up by Humphrey Barclay, the charismatic and energetic former TV producer, FoT has a 10 year history of fundraising to improve the educational and healthcare infrastructure and support services in the village.  Our fundraising was ringfenced to provide clean water.  As we would find out when we reached the village, only 30% of homes receive piped water – and this could fail at any time.  The rest rely on water from the river or from five scattered wells of dubious quality, with each family requiring at least 10 buckets a day for their basic needs.

Friday 30^th September, our merry band of assorted cyclists gathered at Heathrow airport to receive our garish yellow, green and red cycling shirts and an airticket to Accra.  I don’t think I am insulting my companions by stating that we are not athletes.  Nor are we in the first flush of youth – ranging from late 30s to early 70s.  But our hearts are set on the cause and with introductions over there is much talk of training and preparation.  I start to think that my laps of Richmond Park sound a touch inadequate compared to the “90 miles off road last weekend” that at least one of my new companions managed.

But I am among friends – Claire, Suzi, Tim and KM – and apart from KM, we have done trips like this before and think we know what to expect.  Hmmmm.  By the end of the week we are all agreed that it’s the hardest week's cycling we have ever done.