Teacher to cycle 12,000 miles for Southside charity

A TEACHER is setting off on a gruelling 12,000-mile trip across Africa next week in a bid to raise funds for a Southside based charity that provides support and advice for those at risk of suicide and self-harm.

On Friday, January 11 Philip Howard (30) will embark on the mammoth bicycle ride through Africa, fulfilling a long-held ambition while also raising money for Lucan based Pieta House.

A physical and mental challenge, he will journey from Cairo in Egypt to Cape Town in South Africa, cycling an average of 120km a day and camping at night.

Philip will be taking part in the Tour d’Afrique, which is recognised as the world’s most challenging stage bicycle race in the world. He has paid over

?¬13,000 out of his own pocket to take part in the race, but he has already raised over

?¬7,000, which will go directly to Pieta House.

The race will take place in stages varying in length from about 40 kilometres to 200. Organisers of the event prepare daily meals for the participants and set up their tents and other equipment at night.

The race will take four months to complete and Philip will pass through 10 different countries dealing with extremely difficult terrain, intense climatic conditions and potentially dangerous political surroundings.

“This year we will be going through Kenya and our trip coincides with elections there,

? Philip said.

“The last time there were tense elections in Kenya and those on the tour had to get a convoy and escort in a few places. In Egypt we will be starting from Cairo and we will have to get an escort there as Egypt at the moment is a little bit dangerous.

“The heat will be massive in Africa and in Sudan where you will be looking at 40 degrees plus,

? he added.

“Illness will also be a huge thing and you will be very lucky if you don’t get sick.

?

Phillip, who teaches at Brunswick Street CBS primary school, decided to undertake the journey in aid of Pieta House partly because one of his cousins committed suicide about 10 years ago and also because he feels suicide is becoming an increasingly important issue.

“I have been shocked at the number of suicides that have been happening in the country,

? he said.

“Suicide is something that I feel strongly about and I would like to be in a position to support the fight against suicide as much as possible.

?

Pieta House’s primary aim is to reduce suicide by helping people get through that critical phase when suicide becomes a plan rather than just an idea. It provides a professional, face-to-face, free of charge therapeutic service for people in the acute stages of distress.

For more details or to follow Philip’s blog while he participates in the Tour d’Afrique, you can log on to www.onyerbikeinafrica.com Donations to Philip’s fundraising effort can also be made at www.mycharity.com/event/onyerbikeinafric