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General Press Release
24 September 2000 Round the world motorcyclist appeals for medical aid donations A motorcyclist has arrived in town to raise funds for medical aid. Simon Milward is riding a handmade motorcycle around the world in an attempt to raise US$100,000 for Médecins Sans Frontières and Riders for Health. Milward, a Briton, left Europe on 1st January 2000 in this two and a half year charity trek. Australia is country number 20 after he rode through Europe, the Middle East, South Asia and Indonesia. He came to Darwin on a Merpati flight from West Timor on 1st September, escaping marauding pro-Jakarta militants by two days, and rode through the outback to arrive in Sydney for the start of the Olympic Games. He has 20 months and 50 countries to go taking in SE Asia, Siberia, the Americas and Africa. So far he has raised US$15,000 towards his target mainly en route in Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Pakistan and Nepal. He hopes to boost the funds raised during his two and a half month Australian leg, having already raised Aus$1000 in NSW. He invites individuals to "share this amazing adventure" by donating Aus$20 and receiving a pin badge and en route email updates. Companies and organisations can donate from Aus$200 and have their logo placed on the high-profile motorcycle and their web page linked from www.millennium-ride.com. He says that all cash raised will now got to charity and accounts will be audited at the end of the ride in 2002. En route experiences include meeting the Dalai Lama in North India, a marriage proposal in Cairo, and several potentially serious accidents that could have jeopardised the whole trip. He said "The kindness of the people everywhere has been a real blessing - I was pleasantly surprised in Muslim countries. The diversity of land and cultures is most amazing. Perhaps the most significant thing I've learnt is the potential for motorcycles to save lives in developing countries through using them for primary healthcare delivery. Personally I feel so lucky to have the opportunity to do this thing."
www.millennium-ride.com Tel: + 61 2 9833 7794 Fax: + 61 2 9833 7795 |
