In November 2025 I shall be joining a team of 60 riders taking part in Child.org's Ride Africa 500k five-day challenge, from Lake Nakuru to Maasai Mara cross-country through Africa’s National Parks. We will be raising money for life-saving work in maternal and child health.

It will be my 60th year and a huge test for me, so all I ask is that you please support this fabulous initiative by giving whatever you are able to - everything you give will make a huge difference! Read their story below to see the impact your donations will make.

Thank you for your support and generosity. Helen x

Child.org and Ride Africa story

In 2001 my step-daughter-in-law Rebecca Smith and two university mates took a group of 25 medical students out to Kenya to turn a run-down hotel into a hospital and set up The Kenyan Orphan Project charity. Later they re-branded to Child.org as the focus of their work was no longer just orphans but all children. Their mission over the last 22 years has been to improve child health and education running multiple school-based projects, improving food, fresh water, sanitation, malaria nets, vitamins, all evidence-based interventions which improve child mortality. Since this work, primary aged child mortality has massively improved!

‘Infant mortality rates still remain awfully high’

Over the last five years the charity’s focus has now moved to perinatal care and infant mortality, the rates of which have 'not' improved over the last 20 years! Working with communities across Africa to improve women’s access to education, healthcare, assisted delivery and post-natal checks, since 2019, over 10,000 mothers have become involved in The Team Mum Project! Whilst maternal mortality rates remain scarily high in Kenya, the charity’s passion remains with pregnant women and ensuring their babies’ safe entry into the world and the best chance in life.

‘Ride Africa’s cycle challenges raise thousands for Child.org’

None of this valuable work would be possible without donations to this fantastic cause and every year Ride Africa organise their cycle challenges to raise hundreds of thousands of pounds in support of this pioneering charity.

“No mother, or her baby, should die from preventable causes”