Yes, that's me in the Ben and Jerry's jersey!
It's been a while since I took on a major life challenge. A few months ago my longtime friend and professional colleague Olaf Kula told me he was hand cycling from Arlington to Gettysburg. I knew Olaf was a keen cyclist, but had no idea he had to convert to hand cycling due to an illness that took all sensation away from the lower half of his body. As an avid cyclist myself I agreed to join him on the first leg, around 100 km to Frederick. Riding along with a large group of disabled foot, hand, prosthesis and other driven cyclists was immensely inspiring, and reminded me how disabilities are just one more life challenge. Olaf told me he had planned an exhibition across southern Africa for disabled cyclists and to fundraise for local groups supporting people with disabilities - and I knew I had to be in. So May-June 2023 I'll be covering over 2000 miles in less than 2 months (my average miles cycling in a year) with a great crew, helping keep our inspiring hand cyclists going on the steeper bits...and struggling to keep up with them on the descents!
I hope that you will help support this cause...the more money we raise, the more we can provide in grants to support great southern African institutions working to help people with disabilities surmount their life challenges, and realize their vast potential.
Well, we did it! On 19 June we rode into Maputo and came to the Indian Ocean, completing our cross Africa adventure. The last days in Eswatini and Mozambique were filled with both challenges (cycling) and rewards (more connections with great people and organizations). In both countries we met with both disabled persons’ and cyclists’ groups. In both, as with everywhere, we found incredible friendship, generosity and inspiration. 
Dear Funders,
