Oct - Final Entry

We have all returned safely to the UK and the work and effort of the last 12 months starts to draw to a close….. well almost.

Our return form the last leg of 350 miles in Africa was the most moving and emotional experience. On our journey we have seen poverty and despair; we have seen starvation and the results of non existent sanitation and much of this was in Europe. We have seen the awful effects of war and ethnic cleansing in central Europe and the beauty of the Greek cost devastated by the recent fires. But none of this prepared us for the cycle on the African leg of our journey.

Here we also saw extreme poverty, starvation, deprivation and the terrible terrible effect that 20 years of conflict, abuse, torture and murder has had but we were not prepared for the hope, the smiles, the commitment to learn and the pride in a rebuilding nation that we experienced in Uganda.

The country has a natural beauty that never disappointed but more than this everyone we met, without exception was open, friendly and welcoming. We found a work ethic that was admirable and we found children who have seen the most horrendous abuse, working hard to improve their lot and doing this with a happiness we did not experience anywhere else on our trip.

The riding was superb on marram roads that we re hot and dusty but also enjoyable to ride on. The scenery was beautiful beyond belief and we were warmly welcomed everywhere we went. We thought we had seen it all until we rode into Koch Goma school on Monday with a police escort to be greeted by thousands of kids lining the route, traditional dancers, a gathering of 90 important guests, a school population swelled to 1000 by the local kids as well as the school pupils. We had more dancers, choirs and lots of speeches in a day long celebration of our efforts.

We saw the farm and the buildings that we have helped to fund and happiness hope and those wonderful smiles everywhere despite the most basic conditions.

We visited Cubu school on Tuesday where Daniel, the head master, welcomed us and I was amazed at the improvements that had been achieved with the funding that Steve Jones has directly given since I was last at the school 18 months ago.

We have some civic celebrations coming up and a big party on the 23rd which we hope will bring us very close to our financial goal for this event please support us at this party if you are able and please keep sponsoring, your money is never wasted and has a massive benefit to so many people

Thanks to everyone who has supported us particularly the support teams who have been so fantastic and made all this possible but most of all thanks to Africa and thanks to the children of Koch Goma and Cuba schools we learnt so much and we envy your hope and those smiles

Nick Bevan

The last leg team.

Just a few more miles.

A friendly welcome from the locals!

Approaching the end.

Welcome celebration.

Steve & Nick at the presentation speech.

Just some of the many who were there to welcome us.

Memorial to the children who died.