Alnwick teacher gears up for fund-raising cycle challenge in aid of Malawi children

Andy Bottomer, who manages a voluntary sports development project in Chitipa, has been collecting donations of sports equipment over recent months to take out to the Africa.

Now, he is planning a 110-mile sponsored cycle on February 8-9 to raise money to freight the goods overseas.

Over two days, he will ride from Alnwick to Embleton, Seahouses, Bamburgh, Etal, Wooler, Ingram, Harbottle, Rothbury, Amble and Alnmouth before finishing at the Horse Shoes pub in Rennington.

So far, he has raised £1,400 of his £2,000 target.

He has already made three trips to Malawi, most recently concentrating on the training of youth football coaches.

Football kits donated by Longhoughton Rangers FC and Felton Juniors FC were also taken, while 25 footballs were donated and T-shirts for the trained youth coaches were kindly donated by Sports World Alnwick.

Ahead of the next trip in September, football kit has been donated by Red Row FC, Whittingham Primary, Shilbottle Primary, Longhoughton Rangers FC, Alnwick Juniors FC, Felton Juniors FC, East End Juniors Amble; netball kit by the North East Netball Association; and cricket kit from the Northumberland Cricket Board, Tillside CC, Alnwick CC and Rock CC.

The trip will involve further training for the 45 trained youth coaches.

In Chitipa there are 11 registered football clubs each with a senior, U17 and U14 team. An U12 eight-a-side mini league is also being organised.

If anyone would like to help please contact 07391598802 or email [email protected]