Peddling for Change 2026: Over £8,000 Raised
Dirt roads, challenging climbs and a special visit to Radnor House School, Namakoko - our East Africa Safari Cycle was one to remember!
Thanks to everyone who supported us, helping us to raise over £8,000 for Project Le Monde.
Meet the Cyclists!
Our team brought together nine talented cyclists: Ed, Ali, Mary, Kieran, Richard, Anne Edina, Sallie and Ellen from St Margarets’ Cycling Club.
A Brilliant Team to Guide Us
We were very fortunate to have David Kinjah, Chris Froome’s mentor, leading us throughout the duration of the cycle. His experience and knowledge was invaluable, as were his early morning stretching sessions!
A huge thank you to David, Abdul, Ivan and Jon, who guided us and looked after us every step of the way, and to Abby and Rebecca, who took such good care of us during the Ugandan leg of our journey.
We are incredibly grateful to you all for your kindness, encouragement and company. You helped make this trip so memorable and it was a pleasure to share the adventure with you.
David and Abdul Repair Bikes with an Audience!
From Kampala to Radnor House School, Namakoko
Our opening ride from Kampala to Jinja covered 103 kilometres of busy roads and undulating hills, setting the tone for the challenge ahead. We quickly learnt that keeping the pedals turning depended on the chains agreeing to stay on, which they frequently didn’t! At least the regular roadside stops gave us a chance to catch our breath.
Our team of cyclists take on one of many dirt track roads on the way to Radnor House Namakoko.
The following day, we tackled 82 kilometres from Jinja to Namakoko, riding almost exclusively along red dirt tracks in the African heat. After a seemingly endless final road, and reassurances that the school was “just around the corner”, we arrived at Radnor House School, Namakoko, supported by Project Le Monde.
The school community gave us such a warm welcome, with a ceremony and speeches followed by a tour of the classrooms. It was lovely to meet the students and staff, spend time together and see first-hand the work our fundraising helps to support.
We handed out sweets and gifts, and even found enough energy to join the village children for football. Unfortunately, Richard tore his hamstring during one of the matches; an unwelcome souvenir from an otherwise very special visit. It turned out that the football pitch could be just as demanding as the cycling!
Meeting the school community reminded us why we were taking on this challenge and why the generosity of everyone supporting matters so much!
Across the Border into Kenya
After visiting Namakoko, we took on our longest day yet: 104 kilometres to Sega, crossing the border into Kenya along the way. As for the border crossing, “without a hitch” may be stretching the truth a little! From Sega, we continued to Kisumu, holding particular significance for Ed, having been home to his father and grandfather many years ago.
Fortunately, Ed and Richard had the chance to stop by his father’s former home, now owned by a Senior Kenyan Prison Chief. What began as a visit to explore some family history became a rather intriguing encounter, leaving us joking that they may have mistaken Ed and Richard for foreign intelligence!
Our team of cyclists standing at the gates of Kisumu Impala Sanctuary, joined by George (centre), from the Kenyan Wildlife Service.
On the morning we left Kisumu, George from the Kenyan Wildlife Service joined us for the first part of the ride. George hopes to inspire more Kenyan’s to take up cycling and we were delighted to have him join us for a section of the journey. The next 84 kilometres brought our toughest climb yet. With an average gradient of roughly 10% over 10 kilometres, it was a serious test of the legs, especially in the heat. Reaching the top felt very well earned!
With the toughest leg of the trip behind us, we continued onwards to Nakuru, tackling a 58 kilometre ride to Naivasha through the Rift Valley and more spectacular Kenyan countryside. By now, David’s morning stretches, long days in the saddle and many roadside repairs had become part of our daily routine.
Top of the Valley
Standing proud at the top of Rift valley.
Beyond the Miles
Beyond the cycling and main stops, it was often the smaller, unexpected moments that made the trip so special. At one lunch stop, we were joined by local village children for a game of football and gifted them a skipping rope. It was a lovely moment to share and a small reminder of how such simple gestures can bring so much joy.
Richard Skipping with Local Village Children
Evenings brought a chance to rest our legs, make a respectable dent in the hotel’s supply of Tanqueray and enjoy the remarkable variety of food on offer. Let’s just say that by the end of the trip, some dishes had made a few more appearances than we may have liked. And, of course, we cannot leave out the Turbine Hotel in Nairobi. An interesting stay, and perhaps a story best told by someone who was there!
Several game drives and boat trips gave us a chance to explore beyond the cycling and enjoy some of Kenya’s extraordinary wildlife. Between these outings and occasional sightings from our bikes, we saw lions, zebras, wildebeest, baboons, hippos and rhinos, to name just a few. The giraffes, however, deserve a mention of their own, largely because Sallie’s enthusiasm for them was a highlight in itself. No matter how many we had already seen, the next giraffe was always worth getting excited about.
Farewell
With our final ride ending at the gates of Amboseli National Park, it was time to say our goodbyes to the team who had shared the journey with us.
The team complete the ride at the gates of Amboseli National Park.
We exchanged wristbands as keepsakes of our time together, and David gifted Kieran a Kenyan Olympic Team t-shirt - a special memento to take home. Ellen very kindly gifted her Oakley Meta glasses and cycling computer to David and Abdul, a lovely gesture of thanks for all their support.
A big thank you also to St Margarets’ Cycling Club for treating us to drinks on our final night.
After so many miles, challenges and laughs along the way, saying goodbye was bittersweet, but we left with unforgettable memories and enormous gratitude to David and the team for their care, kindness and company throughout the journey.
Over £8,000 Raised - Thank You!
We are extremely grateful for all the support and donations, raising more than £8,000 for Project Le Monde. A heartfelt thank you to every cyclist, our wonderful team and everyone who donated, shared the fundraiser or encouraged us along the way.
Your generosity will make lasting contributions to our work supporting children’s education in Uganda.
A Herd of Cows Block the Road!
Feeling Inspired?
Following the success of this year's East Africa Safari Cycle, we are now exploring an exciting new challenge for 2027: Mount Kenya to Mombasa. We’re currently gathering expressions of interest to help shape the ride and understand potential participation. Proposed dates, costs, fundraising requirements and the full itinerary will be shared as plans develop.
Stay in the loop by completing the short form here!