Dr. Brenda Trenholme of Rossland completed a 121-day fundraising ride last year for the Canadian-based charity, KEEF (Kenya Education Endowment Fund). She cycled 11,397 kilometres from Cairo, Egypt to Cape Town, South Africa, visiting 10 countries en route, with Tour d’Afrique (TDA Global Cycling) and a group of 18 international cyclists.
Brenda blogged: “We are woken daily at 4:45 a.m. to prepare ourselves and our bikes, pack up our gear, breakfast at 6 a.m. to be on the road by 7.” From the Sudan: “108 degrees, nine hours of demanding, body jangling washboard roads…The huge pumpkin globe of the sun that rose at dawn heralded by the Muslim chant and a cacophony of camels groaning as they were being loaded; donkeys braying, sheep and goats bleating, and roosters crowing.” From Kenya: “38 degrees and barely crawling against a fierce, steady wind. The howling [of hyenas] kept some of us awake last night.” From Tanzania: “spotted our first wild giraffes loping gracefully along. Magnificent! 47 degrees with high humidity.”
From Cape Town: “This is it, the day towards which we have all been striving, here at last! It was a 60km ride to our meeting point where we were greeted by the welcome scent of the salty Atlantic air and waves crashing on an endless white beach. It was a welcome sight, despite the fog which blocked our view of Table Mountain. After savoring a special last lunch at the seaside, with tears of mixed emotion, and photos on the beach, we jubilantly rode the final 10km in convoy to our beachfront hotel in Cape Town. Many awaited us there with cheers and banners. Emotions ran high as we put down our bikes and posed for our last photo together. Riders, their loved ones and the staff were happy, relieved, exhausted, proud, amazed! Awards were given out to the racers and champagne flowed freely all afternoon………Well that’s it folks, TDA 2016 is now done and it’s time to move on. However, most of those on this great African continent who shared their riches with us still struggle to move forward with little education.”
Why did Trenholme ride for KEEF? In her words: “Giving food, shelter and medicine will help needy people today, but they will still need more tomorrow. However, giving them an education gives them the tools they need to effect powerful, relevant, positive social change so they can meet their own needs in the future. Our support profoundly alters the lives of students, their families and often their community.”
Secondary and post-secondary education are beyond the means of many Kenyan families. KEEF supports 110 students in high school and 40 in post-secondary institutions. Graduates employed in a variety of trades, professions and business endeavours are bringing about transformations to their society.
Trenholme will share the highlights of her cycling odyssey on Thursday, July 27 at 7 p.m. at Comox United Church, 250 Beach Dr.
Her blog and pictures are at www.brendainafrica.wordpress.com
Support her efforts at www.kenyaeducation.org
Tax deductible receipts are available. Mark your donation, Brenda’s Ride.