Athens to Amsterdam cycle trek for The Zuri Project

A Lancashire charity worker will be cycling from Athens to Amsterdam to support community schemes in Uganda.
Martin Hewell, co-founder of The Zuri Project, in UgandaMartin Hewell, co-founder of The Zuri Project, in Uganda
Martin Hewell, co-founder of The Zuri Project, in Uganda

Martin Hewell, from Euxton, is hoping to raise funds for the locally led development projects that The Zuri Project supports in South West Uganda that tackle multi-dimensional poverty, malnutrition, food insecurity, access to health care, education and sport opportunities.

The 26-year-old, who co-founded the charity, said: “This has to be the toughest challenge I’ve ever planned. I haven’t done a solo challenge before and I’ve always wanted to take on a fund-raiser that will make a difference to a community in which I’ve lived and to a cause where I know that the money will have a significant impact on the lives of thousands of people less fortunate than ourselves.

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“The Zuri Project Uganda engages with local people to collaborate, co-design and implement development projects that the community feel are most needed in a variety of areas such as sustainable agriculture, health, sport, education, nutrition, female sanitisation and income generating projects.

“Therefore, I hope that this challenge can raise over £2,000 towards these projects, and in particular, towards the construction and resourcing of the first ever secondary school in the village and the resourcing of a deprived health centre.

“I am doing this alone on a very tight budget, so I really hope to hit, and surpass, the fund-raising target money for a worthy cause.

“The journey is 3,600km. The furthest I’ve ever cycled is 25 miles.

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“My route will take me through 10 countries. I will head north from Greece, into Albania, then along the coast of Montenegro, briefly pass through Bosnia and Herzegovina, onto a tough, lengthy climb through Croatia, through to Slovenia, then over the Eastern Alps in Austria, heading West across the South of Germany, touching the North East of Belgium and then onto the last stretch into Amsterdam in The Netherlands.

“I plan to cycle on average about 60 – 100 km a day depending on the gradient and head winds, so it should take around 50 days.”

If any business wishes to sponsor Martin, who will start his challenge on April 22, get in touch via http://www.facebook.com/Zuriproject or http://www.zuriprojectuganda.org/To donate visit https://cafdonate.cafonline.org/6164

For a previous story on The Zuri Project click here http://www.lep.co.uk/news/helping-out-a-community-in-uganda-1-7956393