The Planning - The Lions on the Road: Cycling London to Cape Town - page 11

entered Congo from Gabon, I heard on BBC World Radio that Angola held its first elec-
tions.Iwasquiteexcited.AsInearedtheAngolanborder,thingsdrasticallychanged.With-
in that week, US/South Africa-backed Jonas Savimby (who wanted democracy) lost the
elections to Jose Eduardo Dos Santos. Much to the embarrassment of the US and South
Africa, Savimby resumed fighting. I guess democracy wasn't what he really wanted. The
borders were immediately closed and so, my route through Zaïre had to be taken.
Throughout the tour my attitude was simple: if I couldn't obtain a visa for the next
country en route, it was a sign for me not to go…a kind of red light not to proceed. I was
always ready with a 'Plan B'. Incidentally, throughout Africa, I never had a visa problem.
On the contrary, many visas were given free of charge and quicker than expected.
Sorry,backtotheplanning.Idrewmapsofmyrouteandmademyofficialitinerary.
This was included in my PR package that I first sent to UNICEF and then to companies,
the media (television and radio stations) and other organizations.
The first company I contacted for sponsorship was Cookson America Incorporated
(Rhode Island, USA). I met the CEO, Mr. Oster in London through my hotel employment.
I wrote to him personally asking if his corporation would be interested in my cycling tour
for UNICEF (assuming UNICEF was on board.)
As I waited for a reply, I listed all the countries I was to visit and then wrote to 50
embassies in London for visa and national media information. Since I lived in Cornwall
(south-western part of the UK) my self-addressed envelope bills were rising. Within two
weeks, I received 60 per cent of the requests.
My First Set Back
OnOctober26,1991,Ihadmyfirstplanning-stagesetback.Ireceivedaletterfrom
UNICEF that basically said that they didn't feel they would be a suitable partner for the
tour. After a telephone conversation with the UK office, I was told that I was in a 'Catch
22' situation: UNICEF didn't want to use my project because they couldn't see how they
could benefit since no companies showed interest. Second, no companies have yet showed
interest because UNICEF wasn't on board.
Well, there I was- a charity tour without a charity. Which charity would I contact
next?Isearchedforcharitiesthatworkedwithchildren.Idecidedinsteadofraisingmoney,
I would ask people to sponsor a child…perhaps one child for every mile I cycled. It was
herewhere Iconfused thecharities' missions. Ithoughtthat Save theChildren Fund(STC)
worked in this manner (it was Foster Parent Plan.) So in my ignorance, I contacted STC.