December 29, 2007 (Toronto, ON) – Tour d’Afrique, the world’s longest and most spectacular bicycle event has attracted a record number of entrants for 2008. With 56 full tour and 39 sectional riders from all over the world preparing to test their limits in this annual 12,000 km race and expedition down the length of Africa (Cairo to Cape Town), Jamie MacRae and Joshua Martyn from GTA are registered and ready to roll.

On January 12th 2008, with the pyramids behind them and the African continent stretching ahead of them, the cyclists will collectively push the ‘pause’ button on their ‘normal’ lives for four months to begin a journey of both body and soul as they pedal their way through an epic adventure like no other.

Jamie MacRae (55) a Visual Arts teacher from Toronto first heard about the Tour d’Afrique in 2004 when a former student returned to share his experiences of his epic bike ride across the African continent. Having been to South Africa in 2002 to investigate developing an outreach program for the Get Ahead Project (GAP) School in Queenstown, Jamie had already sampled some of the magic of Africa. “I said to myself that this was something I would like to do and then I put the idea behind me as the academic year moved on.”

Jamie’s personal mission statement, ‘To be of service and make a difference in the world through my act of contribution’ which he often shares to motivate his students, was to be seriously challenged that same year when one of his students, in a discussion they were having about using the media to make a difference, made a comment that was, as Jamie describes, ‘a true gift’. “He said to me, ‘Yes, but what are YOU doing to make a difference?'” recalls Jamie who, at that point, realised that he was in fact hiding behind the safety of the classroom while encouraging others to live their life to the fullest. “In the back of my mind was the seed about the Tour d’Afrique. It kept coming back to me in so many ways…both subtle and forceful. I finally had to say yes!”

It has taken Jamie four years to realize his intention to cycle the Tour d’Afrique and he has taken on considerable personal and financial sacrifices to make this dream a reality. He will be riding to raise $50 000 for the Bridging Fund set up by the Leacock Foundation. He recently surpassed the halfway mark and is on his way to achieving that goal. “Since all children who attend school in South Africa must pay school fees, many African families or guardians are unable to provide their children with a quality education due to the ravages of AIDS, poverty or rampant unemployment.” explained Jamie. “They are destined to repeat the cycle of poverty experienced under the old system of Apartheid. This special fund provides annual tuition assistance to the neediest children attending the GAP School, until permanent sponsors can be found.” To contribute to Jamie’s fundraising efforts, visit the Leacock Foundation web site here or www.rideforgetaheadprojectschool.com

Of the ride itself, Jamie says “I am very grateful for the opportunity to share this experience with people from around the world. It is an example for the world to see a diverse group come together to support each other in a common goalÅ making it to the amazing city of Cape Town in May 2008.”

Joshua Martyn (27) who lives in Blackstock (near Port Perry) and works as a store manager for Impala Bicycles in Whitby, is no stranger to biking and travel. He is a former mountain bike race promoter, rides recreationally year round, and has always loved to travel and explore new cultures and countries. While experiencing food is always a highlight, he believes there is no better or more satisfying way to see the world than on a bicycle. “I’ve been intrigued by the Tour d’Afrique since first hearing about it 4 years ago, and cannot believe that my time to actually do it is approaching so quickly,” acknowledged Martyn, who is currently in the throes of packing and repacking for the epic journey.

“It is going to be great to land in Cairo with only one thought on my mind – the adventure which we are about to embark on. I am so excited to hit the road and head south. It is going to be a very liberating day,” he added. He also acknowledged that while his aversion to needles has not diminished after many weeks of injections, he knows that even these memories will quickly disappear with the first pedal stroke.

Josh Martyn is looking forward to returning and sharing his stories and extensive photos with any interested groups. Just as his previous trips to Tanzania, Mount Kilimanjaro, Japan and Machu Pechu have led to presentations to varied groups (from grade school classes to Women’s Institutes), he expects more of the same when he returns from this latest adventure. While Martyn does not charge fees for his presentations, any honorarium will be donated to cancer research.

The organizers of the Tour are equally enthused about this year’s event. “2008 is our biggest year yet,” remarked company founder and environmental activist, Henry Gold, who launched the first Tour d’Afrique 5 years ago in 2003. “We had to cap the entries in October and still have hopeful riders on the waiting list.”

On their journey through 10 African countries (Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Botswana, Namibia and South Africa) the riders travel past ancient temples, through game reserves teeming with wildlife, across deserts and the foothills of legendary Mount Kilimanjaro, alongside the rugged and biblical landscape of Ethiopia’s Simian Mountains and through Botswana and Namibia’s most magnificent wilderness areas.

The journey takes approximately 120 days of which 96 are cycling days, averaging 125 km each day. Support trucks transport the gear and equipment, and an experienced crew sets up camp each night and prepares four meals a day.

The Tour accommodates three categories: Racers -individuals who plan to race all the way; Expedition Riders – who cover the daily distance at their own pace; Sectional Riders – who ride a section or sections of the trip.

“We have riders participating from 15 different countries, ranging in age from 22 to 67 and while the majority of them are doing it for the sheer joy and adventure of it, a handful of racers are going to be giving it all they’ve got.” said Tour Leader, Miles MacDonald. “The event attracts riders from all walks of life, each with their own unique stories and reasons for doing it, but what is heartening is how many of the entrants are riding to raise funds and awareness for good causes or charities.”

Meanwhile, Gold and his team are pioneering a new cycling category, trans-continental bicycle touring. “The response to our 3 epic events is snowballing,” continued Gold who recently led 37 cyclists across Asia and China on the inaugural Silk Route Bicycle Expedition.

Apart from experiencing the sheer joy, exhilaration and freedom that comes with crossing a continent by bicycle, one of the main goals of the company is to raise awareness of the damage being done to the environment through society’s increasing use of motorized transportation. Dangerous levels of CO2 in the atmosphere as a result of the use of cars worldwide play large part in the global warming crisis.

“It’s common sense that the world needs to restrain the growth and use of car transportation,” noted Gold. “Neither urban infrastructure nor the environment can sustain such dangerous levels of growth. As we travel across Africa over the next four months, we look forward to supporting this message. By proving that it’s possible for ordinary people to cross an entire continent by bicycle, we hope to inspire more people to use bikes instead of cars in their daily lives.”

Whether participating as a competitor or adventure cyclist, the Tour d’Afrique challenges riders physically and mentally like no other – with rewards of unsurpassed terrain and diversity, and an incomparable feeling of accomplishment that few have the opportunity to experience in a lifetime. For Jamie MacRae and Joshua Martyn the time for this lifetime adventure is now, and they can hardly wait for the journey to begin.