MAN Truck & Bus UK Ltd helping transform lives with Transaid

MAN Truck & Bus UK has the pleasure of announcing their continued support of the life changing charity Transaid and in doing so sponsor a three man team in the Cycle Malawi 2022 challenge.

The two-wheel adventure, taking place from 1st to the 9th October, will see the cyclists cross Malawi, the country commonly known as the ‘Warm Heart of Africa’.

Marking the international development organisation’s 10th African cycle challenge, the MAN team, along with 33 other riders from the transport and logistics industry, will be in the saddle for five days covering an average of 96 kilometres per day in temperatures reaching 84°F and above.

Stefan Thyssen, Managing Director MAN Truck & Bus UK Ltd, said: “I’d like to thank everyone from across the company who showed an interest in being involved in this epic adventure, it created such an interest that we literally had to pull names from a hat. I know I speak for the entire MAN Truck & Bus team when I wish our ambassadors, Kate, Tom and Craig the best luck in their once in a lifetime opportunity.

Riding a route graded as “challenging” MAN Truck & Bus UK’s team of volunteers, comprising of Kate Carter (MAN Truck & Bus UK Truck Sales) Tom Gosbee (MAN Truck & Bus UK TopUsed) and Craig Shannon (MAN Truck & Bus Manchester Parts Manager) will cover almost 500 kilometres and in doing so have the unique opportunity to discover Malawi and rural Africa away from the tourist trail.

After four days crossing the country the penultimate day’s riding includes an afternoon tackling the Zomba Plateau, a stunning table-like mountain which soars to more than 2,080m and presides over the surrounding area.

Stefan added: “This event offers an incredible opportunity to be part of something really special, with teams from across the industry coming together to raise vital funding for an amazing and very special charity. Over the years the Transaid Charity has delivered countless professional driver training programmes which has led to a more skilled driver fraternity and at the same time opened up access to much needed healthcare across Malawi.”

Founded by Save the Children, The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT), and its Patron, HRH The Princess Royal, the international development organisation shares 25 years’ worth of expertise in 23 countries with partners and governments – empowering people to build the skills they need to transform their own lives.

Of the mammoth ride ahead of them, Kate Carter, said: “The opportunity to be a brand ambassador for MAN whilst supporting a fantastic charity that is transforming lives by helping to provide a professional driver training programme, is going to be incredible experience. As a keen cyclist my initial though was - I’d love to have an involvement in this, then when looking at the Transaid website I read that 75% of maternal deaths could be avoided if there was improved access to vital childbirth-related care, my mind was made up, I can’t wait.”

Tom Gosbee commented, “I’m delighted to have been chosen to join the Cycle Malawi 2022 Challenge as an ambassador for MAN Truck & Bus UK.  On reflection I don’t feel I do enough to support charities within my day to day life, but this will change and the thought of helping Transaid and the great work they do is just the start.

“Until recently my parents lived in South Africa helping and working with local schools and charities. Through them I saw the difference their efforts made to people’s lives, so in many ways I’ve seen first-hand the positive impact that these types of events can have,” concluded Tom.

Craig Shannon added, “It’s going to be an honour to represent MAN in this event whilst raising money for such an amazing charity. Having organised and participated in the 2012 MAN 20 Years Transaid Cycle Challenge (North West event) it will be an absolute pleasure to travel to Africa exactly 10 years later and raise even more money for Transaid and the fantastic work they do.”

Transaid works in two core areas, road safety and access to health, to solve two of the biggest transport challenges in sub-Saharan Africa. Transaid’s road safety work focuses on influencing safe driver behaviour with long term programmes in Ghana, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia, responding to local needs for improved training for drivers and riders of trucks, buses, motorcycles and forklift trucks.

On the access to health side, Transaid is working with local partners and communities to strengthen access to health services, primarily in rural areas. They are also working to strengthen health supply chains in collaboration with local partners and governments.

For more information and to find out how you can support the organisation visit www.transaid.org