It is 120 days of heat, rough roads, exhaustion and lack of showers – but Golder’s participation in the 2004 Tour d’Afrique bicycle race is not all about fun. The eight Golder staff participating in the relay race from Cairo to Cape Town have the serious purpose of helping raise awareness regarding the pandemic of HIV/AIDS that is sweeping Africa.

During the ride, described as the world’s longest and toughest cycling event, the Golder team will promote the need to help children affected by the loss of their parents to HIV/AIDS related illnesses.

Our participation in the Tour is the kickoff event for the Golder Trust for Orphans, which helps affected children directly, as well as encouraging Golder staff to volunteer their talents to helping them.

The Trust will also promote and fund the concept of linking orphan support initiatives, such as farm-based child care centres, with commercial (profit generating) agricultural projects.

Golder Associates has provided initial funding for the Trust and we will continue making contributions in the future. In addition, our employees worldwide are being encouraged to contribute ideas, energy, money and time to the Trust.

We also welcome participation from our clients, partners and suppliers. For interested cyclists, you can learn more about the Tour d’Afrique challenge on their website at: www.tourdafrique.com.

For further information on contributions to the Trust or Trust projects, contact Jon Rutherfoord (jrutherfoord@golder.co.za) or Jon Howcroft (jhowcroft@golder.co.za).