6 U.S.-based riders make final preparations for Enduro Africa

Sept. 8, 2009 - PRLog -- A Bethesda resident is one of six Americans participating in Enduro Africa, a fundraiser and motorcycle trek through Southern Africa in October that benefits four charities providing HIV prevention, education, and support in the region.

Andrew Forsyth, 43, registered in December for the fundraiser and 2000-km off-road ride organized by UK-based Global Enduro, a social enterprise for which helping others is central to its business model. The 8-day trip begins on October 2nd in the Eastern Cape of South Africa, ancestral home of Nelson Mandela. In doing so, he had committed to raising a minimum of $7,500 in donations.

“This is the first time I’ll have done anything like this but the cause is very much worth it,” said Forsyth. “South Africa is a vibrant, new democracy with the most severe HIV epidemic on the planet, one that puts young girls and young adults at the peak of their potential on the firing lines. We simply can not stand for this, as [U2 lead singer] Bono has said.”

An avid motorcyclist for 4 years, Forsyth’s riding experience has been limited to Washington D.C.-area highways, expressways, and backroads. Except for his years as a serious mountain biker, he has never ridden off-road. “I know the principles and techniques of riding fast on two wheels in the dirt, gravel, and muck,” he says, “but there’s a big difference between keeping 25 and 300 pounds of bike under control.” He plans to complete offroad training school in the coming weeks.

Forsyth, who is an National Institutes of Health program officer, works with scientists in the U.S. and beyond to develop, test, and disseminate innovative strategies to stem new HIV infections worldwide. His blog (Andrew’s Enduro Africa 2009) publishes 2 – 3 updates per week on HIV prevention and tracks his progress raising funds, planning, and training for the adventure. He plans to post live updates to his blog from the trailside.

Also among the 6 U.S.-based riders in this year’s Enduro Africa, are Ganesh Krishnan, a petroleum engineer and University of Texas alum, and Gary Patterson, owner of an installation company for energy efficient lighting and wind turbines from Oceanside, California.

To date, Forsyth has raised $8100 in donations and has his sights firmly set on reaching his goal of $10,000. “I am simply floored by the response, and level of generosity. People really have been eager to put their values to work in the world, despite the tough economic climate. It’s just incredible.” Donations will benefit UNICEF, Sentebale, TouchAfrica, and Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund.

Contact:
Andrew Forsyth
adforsyth@yahoo.com
Bethesda MD 20814, USA
http://andrewsenduroafrica2009.blogspot.com/

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Andrew's Enduro Africa is a weblog tracking Andrew Forsyth's participation in Enduro Africa 2009, a fund-raising, 2000-km offroad motorcycle ride in Southern Africa in October in support of 4 charities providing HIV prevention, education, and care to Africa's most vulnerable.