Dear Friends,

On October 10th I fly to Malawi with our wonderful friends and fundraising supporters from Qliktech.  I will represent HOPEHIV on a 500 km bike ride in 40 degrees heat alongside a collection of their most senior leaders including CEO Lars Bjork. At the end of the ride we will visit a couple of projects supporting vulnerable African young people on their journey to sustainability and independence. In the last 7 days the importance of fundraising  for our work in Africa has once again come starkly into view.

For the last six years James Thomas has trained for HOPEHIV scores of our partners around the disciplines of helping AIDS Oprhans and their Guardians to develop small sustainable micro-businesses. He did this all over Southern & East Africa and as a result many thousands of young lives have been transformed. On a visit to Nairobi in Kenya on Saturday, he was shopping in the Westgate Mall where he tragically lost his life in the terrorist attack. He leaves a grieving wife Colleen and two daughters. I have completed many physical challenges over the last 20 years and I hope it doesn't sound pretentious but I want to dedicate this particular challenge to the memory and legacy of James and his work. 

(see http://mg.co.za/article/2013-09-23-sa-victim-of-nairobi-siege-remembered-by-family-friends for more about James)

Many of you have kindly sponsored me in the past and the last thing I want to do is presume upon your kindness. If you were able to contribute anything to this initiative, that would be superb. I appreciate it a great deal.

Your friend

Phil