Cyclists move up a gear for 4x4

THOUSANDS of pounds have been raised by cyclists in a charity bike run in Gardenstown for a new 4x4 vehicle that will help orphaned and poverty-stricken children in Malawi.

Gardenstown minister, the Rev Donald Martin, took a trip there earlier this year and was inspired to raise money for the new vehicle, as well as raising awareness of the plight of the African country.

Since just over a month ago, £5,500 has been collected for the 4x4 pick-up, which will go to the Chisomo Children's Club, who work with street kids and their families in Blantyre and Limbe, Southern Malawi. The majority of the money was generated by the cycle run.

A number of youngsters in Gardenstown helped to organise the nine-mile trek after hearing the minister relate tales of his experiences. Rev Martin was one of 14 volunteers and church leaders who visited Malawi in February as part of an initiative organised by the Tearfund charity.

Fourteen-year-old Matthew West of the Friday Night club at Gardenstown Church of Scotland helped organise the run with his clubmates. Around 30 people of varying ages took part.

The church is also set to host an evening of praise for Malawi this Friday, May 25.

It is hoped that the target sum of £10,000 can be achieved before the summer holidays.

The minister explained that it was as a result of a conversation with the director of the Chisomo Children's Club, Nelson Mkanawire, that he decided to raise the money. He found out that two different agencies carrying out different kinds of work in the area he visited were going to have to share a vehicle, because two of their vehicles had fallen into disrepair. He said: "You can imagine if we were sharing a car between us. It wouldn't be very handy. I thought this is something I could do when I get back to Scotland.

"This Chisomo Children's Club lifts many boys off the streets: street kids who have maybe run away from home because of difficulties. Maybe their parents are dead and they are staying with aunts and uncles, and are perhaps not getting on with them, so they go out on the streets. Chisomo tries to take them back and reintegrate them with their families. When they are taking them back, they find horrendous situations."

A small landlocked country in southern Africa, Malawi has traditional ties with Scotland dating back to the work of missionaries from here.


Participants in a Gardenstown bike run who raised thousands of pounds to pay for a 4x4 pick-up truck that will help poverty-stricken children in Malawi. The run was inspired by Gardenstown minister Rev Donald Martin, far left, who visited the country in February this year.

More than 70% of its population of around 13 million people rely on semi-subsistence agriculture to survive. According to the UN, it is the poorest country in the world not recently affected by conflict.

The spread of HIV is a huge problem, with an estimated 17% of Malawi's people now infected with the virus – rates in some areas are much higher. Life expectancy is about 40 years.

Malawi has also suffered from recurrent droughts due to the changing climate, and in recent years millions have come to rely on food aid.

The money will be going through Tearfund to Chisomo, who will be able to purchase a suitable vehicle from South Africa.

The evening of praise for Malawi is set to begin at 7pm at Gardenstown Village Hall, and Rev Martin will give a presentation on the Chisomo Children's Club. There is no charge for the evening, but an offering will be collected.