FTA president to lead two-week cycle ride for Transaid14 March 2011

The Freight Transport Association is organising a 14-day cycle ride around the UK in June, to raise funds and awareness for Transaid's Professional Driver Training Project, which is helping to save lives on Africa's roads.

The marathon challenge is being led by FTA president Stewart Oades, who will be cycling around the UK, accompanied through each FTA region by a local team.

The challenge will start and finish at the FTA headquarters in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, travelling through England, Wales, Ireland and Scotland and covering 750 miles in two weeks, averaging 50 miles a day.

"With a transport industry as professional and well-regulated as ours in the UK, and roads that are generally of a good standard, it is difficult to appreciate how hazardous road transport can be in other parts of the world," says Oades.

"The whole FTA team is looking forward to this challenge and to the opportunity to raise funds for Transaid's important, life-saving work," he adds.

The Transaid project, which is currently active in Zambia and Tanzania, is improving commercial vehicle driver training standards and safety awareness to address the shortage of skilled drivers and help make communities safer.

Currently, road deaths are the third biggest premature killer in sub-Saharan Africa, following HIV/AIDS and malaria, but are set to rise to become the leading killer, if nothing is done to avert the crisis. Funds raised from the ride will enable the project to be expanded further.

Author
John Challen

Related Companies
Freight Transport Association Ltd

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