Trip of a lifetime……..

If you feel like going for a good cycle, Africa sounds like an interesting challenge. If you can raise some much appreciated funds for a few good causes at the same time, then why not. At least, this was the thinking of four Irish lads earlier on this year, and to date they have accomplished loads. Maghnus Collins Smyth, Brian O’Shea (both from Limerick), David Burns (Coleraine), and my brother Alan (Tipperary), are the four in question. The cycle started in Addis Ababa last May, and they reached Cape Town in October, a distance of over 5000 kilometres. Most people would feel that was the end of it, and ‘Mission Accomplished’. Not our lads. a flight back to Addis Ababa to cycle home! Thats right, up through Ethiopa, Sudan, Egypt, Israel, Turkey, across Europe and home. That’s the plan, and the best of luck to them. One of the crew had to return home to college from South Africa, so well done Brian. The other three lads are in Khartoum in The Sudan as I write ( Nov. 7th ’09), so there’s much to look forward to from here on in. For a continuing update of the cycle, log into their website on www.bikeafrica2009.com  and knock in a couple of bob if you can spare it for the charaties (St. Gabriels of Limerick, OAM Sports Academy of South Africa, and Self Help Africa. The lads are doing this at their own expense, and every penny collected goes straight to the three charaties. Their website is a super read, with some photos/videos included, and is well worth a visit.

For any serious Munster rugby fans out there, one of my Munster v All Black Prints, kindly signed by all the members of the 1978 team ( including coach, Tom Kiernan) will be auctioned for the cause in Limerick. This will hopefully happen when the lads return in the Springtime, and would be a super piece of Munster rugby memorabilia to have. I believe that it’s the first time that artwork signed by the whole team of ’78 has been done. Check back here around Feb/March for an auction date, and hopefully it will do well for the charaties.

 The four amigos on their way to Shannon airport?