Clare’s Madagascan mission for medical care (From Warrington Guardian)

Clare’s Madagascan mission for medical care

12:20pm Friday 13th July 2012 in News

A FIVE-and-a-half day cycle around Madagascar proved an unusual charity effort.

Clare Bottle, of Hollywell Drive, Bewsey, completed the 500km cycle around the African island for a cause close to her heart.

The national logistics manager wanted to raise money for charity Transaid, which offers transport for people in African countries who live far away from medical treatment.

The 40-year-old said: “When I was a kid I spent part of my childhood in Nigeria through my dad’s work. I had malaria when I was there and I made a recovery because I had access to western medicine but a lot of African kids won’t have had that care.”

At an industry event many years ago she met some of the team from the charity and decided to help out by raising money for them.

“A few years ago I went to see where drivers get trained in Zambia and it is the only place like it in their country and it makes such a difference to people’s lives,” she added.

Clare joined the group of 25 who took on the challenge to ride around the lush island and even stopped by at a lemur park to meet the country’s most famous inhabitants.

Her efforts in completing the challenge are all the more remarkable considering she is not a cyclist.

Claire said: “When I first signed up to it I didn’t even have a bike. I have been training all around Warrington since September.

“I found the first day the hardest because it was a psychological battle and I thought I couldn’t do another five days of this.”

It is not the first time Clare has tackled a fundraising challenge for the charity, for which she is now a trustee. Last year she completed a trek in Ethiopia.

Together as a group they have raised more than £100,000 and Clare alone has collected nearly £10,000.

Donations are still welcome and if you would like to give visit justgiving.com/cbottle.