700km in Burundi: A Ride of Stamina, Perseverance, and Hope

On June 4th, James, Ed & Ed are flying out to Burundi to undertake an extraordinary challenge: cycling 700km, over 7 days, around Burundi; one of the poorest nations in the world.

Our purpose is to raise crucial funds for Great Lakes Outreach (GLO), an incredible charity that works to bring lasting transformation to the people of Burundi.

Why Burundi?

Burundi is a small, landlocked country in Africa, ranked among the world’s most impoverished nations. Decades of political instability, conflict, and economic hardship have left the country struggling with extreme poverty, malnutrition, and a lack of access to education and healthcare.

Despite its challenges, Burundi is a nation filled with resilience, hope, and people striving for a better future.

Our Goal: £30,000 to Transform Lives

We aim to raise £30,000 to help fund vital projects run by GLO:

● Ensuring access to healthcare in communities that desperately need it. Read about Clementine who has overcome the loss of her legs, being assaulted and many other obstacles.

● Providing education for children who would otherwise never step into a classroom. Watch these children who are now able to go to school with the clothes and stationary they need.

● Supporting vulnerable families to break the cycle of poverty. Read about Tabu who can now feed her family.

● Empowering young entrepreneurs to build sustainable businesses and create jobs. Read about Callixte starting his sewing business which has led to building bridges – figuratively and literally!

Every pound raised will contribute to creating sustainable change, helping to lift individuals and communities out of poverty and giving them the tools to build a brighter future. Every pound given goes ten times further in Burundi compared with the UK, so £30k is the equivalent of raising over a quarter of a million pounds in Burundi. We are self-funding all the costs of the trip so 100% of your donations will go to GLO. We encourage you to give generously.

The Challenge Ahead

Cycling 700km in Burundi will be a grueling challenge with our first day seeing us ride out from the city of Bujumbura, covering 100km, and climbing 7,620 ft to Gitandu. The route continues through mountainous terrain (climbing over 38,000 ft), unpredictable road conditions, and in high temperatures and humidity… we can’t wait!

Right now we are navigating how to use clip in shoes, donning some lycra and cycling the Hampshire hills.

We are hoping to raise £30,000 for GLO, and invite you to be a part of our Burundi challenge through your donation. Your contribution, no matter how big or small, will go a long way in transforming lives. Together, we can ride for change, to bring hope to Burundi.