On the road to help Shelley. It’s never too late to make a pledge

Have some fun in the Joburg to Cape Town ALL OR BUST pledge donation fundraising cycle ride ( a distance of 1,500 km )

Starting on 9 Feb. Eelco Meyjes , who is a director of the Rare Finch Conservation Group ( RFCG ) , will attempt to do a solo cycle ride from Johannesburg to Cape Town, a distance of 1,500 km, as part of a novel fundraising initiative. We are pleased to report that a substantial amount has already been pledged to the ALL OR BUST cycle ride, but we always need more . It’s simple and fun to participate . All you need to do is send an e mail to editor@avitalk.co.za, give your name plus contact details and pledge an amount of money . If he makes it to Cape Town you need to honour your pledge and if he doesn’t you owe absolutely nothing ( Please note that no cash will be taken by the cyclist whilst doing the ride. A pledge means that money is not involved until the ride is successfully completed )

An online pledge can be made at any-time during his cycle ride. It is estimated , if he makes it, that it will take him 20 to 24 days to get there . For those readers wanting to know a bit more about the specs of the bike and the ride here goes… he will be riding a 29er MTB with tubeless tires. His kit weighs 30 kg and the bike weighs 12 kg. Everyday he starts off with 5 litres of water on the bike. He will try and average about 80 km a day. He will stay in B+B’s and guest farms wherever possible. Thanks to Tracetec, who have kindly sponsored his satelitte tracking system, you will be able to follow his progress each day live on http://www.tracetec.net

The money raised from the ALL OR BUST Johannesburg to Cape Town cycle ride will be used to try and help find one of the rarest finches in Africa . The Shelley’s Crimsonwing ( Cryptospiza shelleyi ). Painting done by Howard Robinson

If his epic fundraising cycle ride from Johannesburg to Cape Town is a success then pledge donors will be able to honour their pledges by simply using the convenient and secure  PayPal payment facility below . All donors will be publicly acknowledged on the Rare Finch Conservation Group website. The Rare Finch Conservation Group is registered as a non-profit organisation.