8:00pm Wednesday 31st October 2007
HAULAGE worker Pierre O'Conghaile will swap his truck for a bicycle when he takes part in a trek across Kenya.
Pierre, who works for Goundwell-based haulage firm Wincanton, will cycle 250 miles to raise money for charity.
The 27-year-old and 20 other cyclists will be flying out to the African country on November 10, in preparation for five days of gruelling pedalling.
Through the ride, Pierre, of Churchward, Swindon, is hoping to raise £7,000 for transport charity Transaid.
"I have never done anything like this before," he said.
"Working in transport you take it for granted. In some parts of the world people are dying because they can't get transport.
"We take for granted the fact that you can hop in a car and get to a hospital but out there it could be a lot more difficult.
"It is easy for us to take cars, buses and trains everywhere we need to get where we need to go, but people in Kenya aren't so lucky and I wanted to do something to help.
"I'm relatively new to cycling. Since I have been planning to do this I have been cycling to work every day, but I have never done anything as big as this before.
"I have been cycling to north Swindon for work every day and then doing 40 to 50-mile rides at the weekends for practice. But once we get out there we'll be cycling four to five hours every day."
"I am a bit worried about keeping going day after day. That's going to be the hardest thing, getting up each morning and doing the same thing all over again."
Pierre was hoping to raise £2,750 for Transaid with the ride, but after smashing his target, he decided to treble the total.
So far he has reached £6,248 in sponsorship but is keen to get the extra £700 he needs before setting off in two weeks' time.
Anyone wishing to help Pierre reach this target, can contact him on 07707 079312.
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