In August 2011, Ben Manners, partner in IWG’s corporate department, completed an epic cycling challenge in support of Tusk Trust, a community-based African wildlife conservation charity. Ben and Sallie Burrough, a friend from Oxford University, cycled over 3,000km coast-to-coast from Mozambique to Namibia, entirely unsupported, in just 30 days.
Starting in Maputo, Mozambique, they pedalled into South Africa, across the Mpumalanga Highlands, into southern Botswana and through the Kalahari Desert. They then travelled into Namibia, crossing the Namibian escarpment and the Namib Desert, one of the driest on earth, finishing in the small town of Luderitz on the Atlantic coast.
Tusk Trust, whose patron is Prince William, was set up to try halt the poaching crisis in Africa in the 1990’s. Many iconic African species remain on the threatened or endangered list, a product of the multiple pressures of habitat loss, war, disease, poaching and drought. Since its formation Tusk has raised over £12 million for a wide range of projects across Africa which not only work to protect wildlife, but also help to alleviate poverty, through sustainable development and education amongst rural communities who live alongside wildlife.
Ben and Sallie’s pedalling efforts saw them raise over £13,000 for Tusk Trust, supported not only by IWG but also with a generous contribution from a firm client, Salamanca Capital. More information on the challenge and on Tusk Trust can be found at www.lifecycleafrica.com.