Riders for Health

Let me introduce you to a great charity. Riders for Health. They provide health care workers, in Africa , with reliable transport solutions. Mainly, these take the form of motorbikes. Given the "road network" (I use that phrase in the loosest possible sense - I've walked significantly better quality footpaths), these are the most effective modes of transports. The models that riders provide are specifically designed for the African market, so are cheap and easy to maintain.

That's the key to Riders' success - maintenance of the fleet. All the health care workers are trained to ride their bikes on the harshest of these roads; shown how to do daily checks and roadside repairs. They are also supplied with the appropriate safety clothing. On top of all of this, Riders also has workshop garages, where mechanics take care of the servicing and more major repairs of the fleet (I say fleet as, in some areas, they also provide 4x4s). The mechanics are locally trained, so it helps with the economy.

One of the best items Riders provides, I personally think, is something they've called an Uhuru. this is a motorbike and sidecar combination, but the sidecar is a stretcher, effectively making the Uhuru an ambulance. It gets better, though. The Uhuru can also be fitted with a water pump, operated off the back wheel, thus providing the area the it's visiting with safe, clean water. Joined up thinking, or what?

My church is currently fundraising for Riders, with the aim of donating at least 1 motorbike. It's amazing how taken with the whole idea of the scheme people are. I even know people who I would describe as not totally anti-bike, but certainly not pro-bike, who think Riders work is amazing. If you watched Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman in "Long Way Down", you would have seen just how great Riders' work is, and just how challenging the riding is.

Well, that's my plug - for an organisation I really admire. Click on the link at the side for more information.