A hardy Perth woman is to undertake a mammoth charity challenge.
Jane Laahs, a voluntary services manager for NHS Tayside, will cycle 400km through the African countryside in July.
She hopes to raise just under £3000 for Link Community Development, which helps to ensure children in Malawi get a good standard of education.
Together with a team that includes friends and family, Jane will cover up to 45km a day from Dedza to Mulanje, via Lake Malawi, the unspoiled Liwonde National Park, the city of Blantyre and, finally, through the dramatic Mulanje Mountain Forest Reserve.
On the way, the group will pay a visit to Link Community Development projects in Dedza and Mulanje.
Jane said, “That will be quite good, although I’m a bit worried that I will get emotional but I have been reassured that people will be happy to see us.For details, or to donate, visit http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/JaneLaahs-MalawiBikeRide2011.”There will also be another chance at the end of the bike ride to visit more communities and other projects. We are actually getting to see the work of the charity in action. Their focus is working with local people and not coming in and building things before going away again.
“They do a lot of work with the established community and one of the challenges they have is trying to keep young girls in education. They are often pulled out because they are abused or have to become carers.”
Ever since she first heard about the charity adventure, Jane has been desperate to take part.
“My cousin’s daughter actually works for Link Community Development and I heard about this bike ride in November, as she is doing it,” she said.
“I thought that I’d love to do that too, and thought that there was nothing to stop me, but by the time I’d thought about it and decided, there were no places left and that was devastating.
“Thankfully, some more spaces became free so now I’ll definitely be taking part. Being told that I may not be able to take part made me realise that I really did want to do this.”Change of paceMore used to leisurely cycles around picturesque Perthshire, Jane knows she will have to step up her training to meet the demands of the African landscape.
As well as increasing the length and frequency of her jaunts, she also plans to start a course of gruelling spin classes to build up her stamina.
She added, “I usually have a cycle around Perthshire at the weekends and cover around 30 miles at a time, although it is quite leisurely and I usually stop for coffee.
“Now I’m upping that and I have been doing a 15-mile run on my bike most mornings. It’s great going around Perthshire because there are so many cycle paths and the scenery is just lovely.
“It’s just a case of building that up, which should be easier now we have the nice, clear nights. I’m no athlete but I am taking it as a personal challenge and I’ll give it my best shot.”
The weather should not pose a problem for the team, as it will be winter in Malawi, with temperatures peaking at around 25 degrees.
Jane has already staged a sell-out Mamma Mia night to add to her fund-raising pot and has received support from St Johnstone and Brechin City football fans at a recent cup game.
There are more fund-raisers in the pipeline before she jets off to start the challenge on July 16.