TUF cycle challenge in malawi

By Professor Roger Kirby, Director of The Prostate Centre and Secretary of The Urology Foundation 

Riding a mountain bike 455 km over dusty, off-road trails is not everyone’s cup of tea. But for us, flying over handlebars, suffering aching muscles and sunburn, as well as getting covered in dust was all just part of the excitement and exhilaration we experienced in Malawi. For that was the location where 21 enthusiastic cyclists kitted up in September last year for a five-day bicycle tour in order to raise urgently needed funds for The Urology Foundation.

This was our second Cycle Challenge to raise funds for The Urology Foundation, which supports patient care, research, medical education and scholarships. Rather than just asking people for money, we wanted to literally get off our backsides and do something really challenging, so decided to cycle through Malawi, the poorest nation in Africa. Every participant had to raise a minimum of £3,500 in sponsorship funds, but thanks to the generosity of so many people that turned out not to be too difficult. Action for Charity, which manages this and other overseas challenges (such as hikes) for charities, organised flights, food, accommodation, bikes, and medical and technical support. So far, more than £40,000 has been raised for The Foundation as a result of this challenge.

Malawi is a very poor country of around 10 million (with 90% living in rural areas), affectionately known as the “warm heart of Africa” because of the warmth and friendliness of its people. Children rushed out to greet us as if we were celebrities. The ride took participants through small villages where children and adults alike extended warm welcomes, rich smiles, and helpful hands.

During the adventure, we cycled through forests, rubber and tea plantations, and up and down steep mountains on both tarmac and dusty, off-road trails. Although not luxurious, our accommodation was clean and comfortable, made all the more pleasant by how beautifully the people treated us. One of the most amazing places we stayed at was a lodge previously owned by a former British governor of Malawi, when the country was still a colony. Run by an incredibly tall Dane, named Knute, and his wife, the lodge hosted an amazing celebration dinner for us, with more than a few bottles of wine!

Everyone agreed that the most spectacular sight was Lake Malawi. The third largest in Africa and eighth largest in the world, the lake is approximately 40,000 years old and is the result of the African tectonic plate splitting in two. It is 365 miles long and 52 miles wide, and bordered by eastern Malawi, western Mozambique, and southern Tanzania. We had the opportunity to cycle across the mountains and then hurtle down into the Rift Valley where the lake is situated. When we caught our first view of the lake, we literally fell off our bikes. Although placid looking, Lake Malawi is actually the second deepest lake in Africa. Its tropical waters teem with more fish species than any other lake on earth. Snails endemic to the lake are also vectors for Bilharzia, a tropical disease for which the lake is famous. Upon arriving at Makuzi Beach, four of the younger riders, including my son Joe, and the not-so-young Paul Miller, couldn’t resist the sparkling blue waters and plunged straight in.

NTS

Along the journey, several mishaps occurred. Four riders plummeted from their bikes, including Laura Miller who went clean over her handlebars into the sand. Christian Cooke, the rising star actor, got so distracted by the children running out to greet him that he almost hit the back of a Land Rover.

Despite some cuts, scrapes, and bruises, thankfully no one was seriously injured. Perhaps by divine intervention, John Fitzpatrick’s chain came off twice, just as he was trying to make a move to overtake. Other riders had to deal with more typical overseas travel challenges—like upset stomachs and diarrhoea—but there was plenty of medication to go around. Alister Thorpe, a professional photographer and fellow rider, managed to complete the race and shoot hundreds of stunning photographs of the participants and the scenery at the same time. Characteristically Roger Plail chatted and bantered breezily throughout the trip, by contrast, Kilian Mellon just put his head down, gritted his teeth and cycled on relentlessly. Jay Smith from Vanderbilt, Tennessee, rode like a demon and really kept the young guns literally on their toes.

In addition to the seven urologists, other participants included Christian Cooke, who participated in the ride with his brother Alex. Christian has just finished filming “Cemetery Junction” with fellow actors Ralph Fiennes and Emily Watson. Also along for the ride were Paul Fletcher and his wife Sarah. Paul is a senior partner with Actis Capital LLP in London who provides venture capital for emerging markets, including Malawi.