Bike ride from Arctic to Africa

Chris Thomas, Tom Smith, Ashley Middlewick completed the entire route from Nordkapp in Norway to Santrokofi in Ghana, taking 67 days.

Michelle Cassell was with them as far as Morocco, and RHF chairwoman Kinza Mason joined them for the Scandinavian and Ghana stages.

Kinza, who founded the charity in 2009, told the County Times that it was in October that she came up with the idea of a sponsored bike ride from the north to the south of Ghana, and suggested it to a few people.

The plan expanded to have a much longer route. It also included a stay in Santrokofi, helping out at a summer school project.

The RHF works with orphans and vulnerable people in Ghana. Providing scholarships is an important part of their work - many young people in Ghana simply cannot afford a good enough education to get them out of the poverty trap.

Jones Adzayo, who is one of their scholars studying electronic engineering in Accra, joined them for the four day ride from Accra to Santrokofi.

The money they have raised from this year’s bike ride and other events will allow them to finish work on a child care centre in Santrokofi. This will house orphaned children, provide boarding facilities for those from single parent families who live on remote farms, and to be a support centre for struggling families.

They are now raising funds to furnish the building.

A talk on the ride will be given in an event at the Parrot Inn, Forest Green, from 4.30pm on September 21. Email [email protected] for tickets.

The charity is always looking for people who can help them, either by heading out to Ghana or helping out in the UK. For more information visit www.raisinghopefoundation.co.uk