Prince William, Royal Patron of Tusk Trust and Patron of Centrepoint, launched the ‘Cycle of Life’ charity bicycle ride across Africa, at a special send-off event at Clarence House today.

Prince William launches 5000-mile charity bicycle ride across Africa

Prince William, who is Royal Patron of Tusk Trust and Patron of Centrepoint is keenly involved in the work of both charities, was briefed on the expedition logistics and aims. Prince William then waved the team off as they begin their preparations to leave the UK.

Prince William, Patron of the charities Tusk Trust and Centrepoint: “The expedition has my full support. In taking on such an extraordinary journey, the Cycle of Life team will not only be raising money for such a great cause but also awareness of the need for rural projects that help local communities sustain livelihoods which benefit Africa’s precious  natural environment.”    

Barty Pleydell-Bouverie leader and founder of ‘Cycle of Life’ said: "The responses that I have had so far from Africans hearing about what we are doing and inviting us to step into their lives have been amazing. This is proving to be a life-changing experience for all of us, and with the creation of opportunity at its heart, we very much hope that the results of our expedition will make a real difference to rural Africa.”

Ends

NOTES TO EDITORS

The Expedition

• A total of 5,000 miles of rural Africa on bicycles, without support – 60 miles per day for 4 months
• Two young homeless people join two city professionals, two post-grad students and one rural African guide
• Visiting 20 exemplary community conservation projects across the 7 countries en route
• The team flies on 11^th April with Kenya Airways to Johannesburg en route for Namibia where the journey begins
• The expedition is the brainchild of its leader, Barty Pleydell-Bouverie, a postgraduate from Oxford who has worked on a number of Tusk conservation projects in Africa. He has spent a total of two years working in African communities and it is his passion alone that has made the Cycle of Life a reality.
• The expedition is seeking sponsorship for their efforts – donations can be made online via: Justgiving.com/cycleoflife

About Centrepoint’s young people…

Damian and Xavier from Centrepoint leave the Western world for the first time with key-worker Zak Brophy at their side, to spend a grueling month bicycling through Namibia, across the Kalahari Desert, and into Botswana. Damian, who leaves his hostel accommodation in County Durham, and Xavier, who left his family in France to live on the streets in London four years ago, have both suffered their own brand of hardship and social exclusion. Their reactions to the trials and tribulations of rural African life, AIDS, poverty and disease, will be both eye-opening and emotive. It will be a great exposure to Africa’s vibrant, rich and varied cultures, wildlife and biodiversity as well as exposing them to the harsh realities of everyday poverty in Africa.

Damian Jansen (19) and Xavier Bernal (24), members of the UK’s young homeless community who are being supported by Centrepoint will be part of a team of five that will cycle across Africa in a bid to support sustainable community development and education projects for rural communities blighted by poverty.

Damian, Centrepoint Team Member, says: “To visit Africa and to raise money for people who are perhaps in more challenging circumstances than the ones I have faced is such a unique opportunity for me, which I’m grabbing with both hands. I feel really proud and lucky to be taking part and I’m sure it will give me a whole new perspective on my own situation while I get my life on track. I’m really excited but quite nervous and can’t wait to get on the plane. I’m also ready for possibly the toughest physical challenge of my life.”

Steve Scott, Centrepoint staff member, says: “The staff and young people at the service are really excited about what Damian and Xavier will achieve in making a valuable contribution to the lives of many others. They have faced tremendous obstacles in their lives but this will show them and others like them that they can overcome any challenges they put their minds to. When they come back, I have no doubt that they will have learnt a lot about themselves and their determination to get on in life, despite current circumstances. We’re all very proud of them.”

Prince William became Patron of Tusk Trust, an African conservation charity based in the UK, in December

2005. Tusk Trust has nearly 20 years experience initiating and funding conservation and community development programmes right across Africa. Tusk’s current portfolio of nearly 40 field projects spread across the whole continent is designed not only to protect wildlife, particularly endangered species, but also to help alleviate poverty and encourage sustainable development and promote education amongst many poor African communities living alongside wildlife. For further details visit: www.tusk.org UK Registered Charity Number: 803118.

Prince William became Patron of Centrepoint, the UK’s leading youth homelessness charity, in September 2005. Centrepoint is the national charity working to ensure a brighter future for young homeless people. It helps young people who were previously on a downward spiral, giving them the skills and security to build firm foundations for the future. For further details visit: www.centrepoint.org UK Registered Charity Number: 292411.

Map including the planned route of the expedition and full details of all the projects the team will visit available on the Cycle of Life website www.cycleoflife2008.com where you can also meet some of the group and view a short video of them. 

KEY SPONSORS – the Cycle of Life has been made possible with the support of the following:

Artemis Investment Management

Established in 1997, Artemis has been a major corporate partner to Tusk Trust, supporting a wide range of the charity’s projects and activities. The company is an owner-managed investment provider known for achieving superior returns through funds that regularly beat their benchmark and peers. Since the first funds were launched in 1998, Artemis has established a reputation for strong investment performance in up, as well as down markets. Artemis has grown to the extent that it now manages an asset base of £15.1bn*, which is spread across a range of unit trust funds, an investment trust, hedge fund products, venture capital trusts, as well as segregated and pooled institutional portfolios. Artemis believes in active fund management, fundamental for delivering outstanding investment returns based on the team's belief that its primary aim is to beat the markets by accepting full responsibility for their portfolios. Artemis employs experienced and highly skilled people who have flair, enthusiasm and above all, a passion for searching out the best stocks markets have to offer. www.artemisonline.co.uk  

Kenya Airways

Kenya Airways one of the best and most respected airline companies in Africa, and are providing the Cycle of Life flights into Johannesburg and returning from Nairobi.

CONTACTS

For further information about Prince William contact Eva Omaghomi at Clarence House Press Office on 020 7024 5510

For interviews, images, video and any further information, please contact the following:

CEO, Tusk Trust

Charlie Mayhew

01747 831 005 / 07768 165 399

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Cycle of Life

Barty Pleydell-Bouverie

07866 728711

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Cycle of Life

Jessica Hatcher

07825 910 093

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Centrepoint

Claudia McKenzie

0870 240 5536 / 07961 323 313

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