Cycle though Kenya’s national parks in aid of healthcare in Africa

A KILLINARDEN man will undertake a five-day cycle through national parks in Kenya this weekend and through to next week with the aim of raising money for maternal and child healthcare in Africa.

Jason Fullam, 29, who is a past pupil of Killinarden Community School, works as an accountant for events company Event Fuel and was selected by them to take part in the fundraiser with colleagues.

Now living in Rialto, Jason will cover 100km each day during his five-day odyssey starting this Saturday, November 11 when he begins the course, called Ride Africa 2023.

“The company I work for selected a few of us to go,” Jason told The Echo.

“It’s an organisation called Ride Africa and what they do is, they get a bunch of cyclists who are interested and they cycle through national parks in Kenya.

“It’s around 100km a day and the whole idea is to raise money for Child Org. The funds raised will go to support new mothers to make pregnancy healthier, safer and easier.

“Obviously, in western countries, pregnancy is normally easy.

“In Africa, children are 15 times more likely to die than children born in Europe and North America.”

At the end of the mammoth cycle, Jason and the team of 28 other cyclists will meet staff from Child Org who will tell them how the money raised will be spent, and the difference it will make.

It’s a highpoint in what has been a difficult few months for Jason, after his brother, Glenn Fullam, passed away last April at age 26 after battling cancer.

One of Jason’s first lengthy cycles in preparation for Ride Africa was in September, when he cycled from The Square to Electric Picnic for the Tour de Picnic.

He wore Glenn’s jersey for the cycle, as he was a keen sportsman who played for Crumlin United FC and Sacred Heart FC.

“This year, my whole mindset has changed,” Jason said.

“I wanted a challenge, and I wanted to do it for a good cause.”

He has been doing long-distance cycles over the last few weekends and is looking forward to setting off to Kenya and hopping on the saddle.

“I’m not nervous, it’s more adrenaline,” added Jason.

“You kind of just want to get it started, because you don’t know what’s going to happen.

“We might see lions or elephants or zebras, but we’ll be protected because we will have police with us.

“It’s usually around 30° or 40°C but it’s monsoon season over there, so it could rain.”

While Jason’s family are supportive of his decision to participate in Ride Africa, he did admit that they were a little perplexed.

“They all just think I’m a bit nuts.” he said.

“I share my cycling activity and I get people replying asking am I well, because I’m not a cyclist.

“But once I got on the bike, I was grand. I’ve had no teething issues.”

Jason is hoping to raise €2,000 for Child Org, and donations are being accepted on his Just Giving page HERE.

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