Every boys school has rugby, hockey, cricket, soccer, basketball, tennis and squash teams, but how many can boast a club that puts boys onto the summits of Mt Kenya, Mt Kilimanjaro, Mt. Mulanje (Malawi), Mont aux Sources (South Africa) and Kweza (Chimanimani)? Falcon College can – the Woodsmoke Club – and this year it is at it again. Plans are underway for 10 boys of the Club to visit the Highlands of Ethiopia and ascend Mt Ras Dashen, at 4620m the 4^th highest mountain in Africa.

Such an expedition costs a lot of money. Each member of the expedition will be making a considerable contribution towards the costs, however like a sports tour, the team is seeking to raise funds. However, they wish to earn their sponsorship and at the same time, do something for the community and those less fortunate than themselves, by pledging to give 20% of monies raised to Zimbabwe causes. The causes in mind are the King George VI Memorial Children’s Centre, SOAP (Save Our Old Age Pensioners), a local Esigodini cause and the Whitehead/Trollope Foundation.

Two main fund raising activities are planned:

1)over the 2^nd weekend in July the team will run a non-stop relay from Bulawayo to Vic Falls (439km). It will take 55hours of running with each member of the expedition having to run six legs, totalling 43km, which is the equivalent of a marathon . They will also have to cycle similar legs and distance in support of one another.

2) during September a cabaret is being organized in Bulawayo by Mitzi Carruthers, in which all the team members will have to perform. (Far more daunting than running a marathon! ) Information on the Cabaret will be forthcoming later.

The sponsored run, on current planning, will begin in Bulawayo at 2.00am on Friday 13^th (ugh!) and finish at 09.00am on Sunday 15^th, at Victoria Falls, where we hope to have a grand brunch-type social and some fund - raising trimmings!

While logistically it would be very difficult to lay on ‘en route support’, the team would welcome company! Parents, friends or mere enthusiasts might wish to complete the whole route either on foot or by bike with the aim of being at Vic Falls on Sunday morning in time for the brunch braai. Those needing to be back in Bulawayo for Monday could then depart in good time to return in daylight. Cyclists, might wish to do the whole route, or in 2 sections; to Half Way House (221km) and on to the Falls (218kms), or in three sections; to Kenmaur (140km), to Binga turnoff (141km) then to the Falls (158km)!

Please make a note in your diaries!

Obviously the intention is to raise funds. We know ‘times is ard’, but help with this event or the expedition as a whole would be very much appreciated. So please do join in.

However, if you don’t wish to join in or can’t get there, yet would like to support the team and the associated causes, you could help, please, by sponsoring the team or an individual by the km or for the whole distance.

Other ways of contributing might be by provision of fuel to offset costs, food and refreshments for the brunch, raffle type prizes, visibility vest, t shirts (elephant repellent cream, or lion stun guns for Hwange section!!!). In return the team would be willing to carry / wear / display advertising during the event and during the Ethiopian Expedition.

If you wish to find out more about the expedition please contact Will Randle tel 088 427 or email wrandle@zol.co.zw or wrandle@falconcollege.com 

For more details about the run contact the above or Antoinette Lenton tel 023 408207, 0912 259835, email dalenton@mweb.co.zw

For Details of the Expedition itself follow the Link :  

Woodsmoke Expedition