Over the last three decades Send a Cow, a charity started by South West Farmers, has been changing African farming families lives. It hopes to be working with a million people each and every year by 2020. Halse SW, whose business is with many of those same founding farmers, wants to equip African families with the skills to setup successful farming businesses.

In December I embarked on a training programme to prepare for the Raid Alpine, a historic route through the French and Italian Alps from Geneva, to the Mediterranean coast at Nice. The route of 740km seeks out many of the epic climbs of the Tour de France , 27 Alpine passes and the 2 highest roads in Europe, the Col De Iseran (2764m) and the Cime de la Bonnette (2802m). The six days feature over 16,000m of climbing, or for us Brits, over 52,000 feet!

How can you help?

My initial aim was to raise £16,000. £1 for every metre climbed. However, our Machinery Manufacturers' generosity has now enabled me to raise the target to £20,000. Customers, family and friends, would you also be willing to support Send a Cow and me? If so, I would be very grateful if you could make a Just Giving contribution . 

Your support is greatly appreciated and should make all the difference, both in Rural Africa, and on the mountain roads as I cycle uphill for about 8 hours each day! Please help push me onwards and upwards if you can.

With many thanks,

Philip Halse