Ringwood businessman Michael Micky Chilman to take part in Ride Africa Kenya: Mara Calling challenge.

A RINGWOOD businessman is to ride 500km across Kenya to raise money for a children’s charity.

Michael Micky Chilman (62) will be accompanied by his friend Rob Pimenta and 80 top cyclists taking part in the Ride Africa Kenya: Mara Calling challenge.

This is the fifth time Micky has undertaken the gruelling endeavour for Child.org, a charity providing maternal and child healthcare in Kenya.

The pair are aiming to raise £4,000 for the charity.

Micky said: “This is going to be a very demanding Ride Africa classic ride of over 500km, and unbelievably our fifth ride across Africa! It will be even more insane and ridiculously more difficult than any of the others! Child.org somehow manages to raise the bar on every ride that we do.

“Two years we cycled through national parks with lions, elephants, hippos, giraffes, zebras, hyenas, water buffalo, plus other animals that wanted to kill us. This year we have more to worry about, including cheetahs which can outrun us.

“Plus, those enormous hills that go on forever, the extreme heat and humidity, and my poor posterior which really does not want to do another one of these challenges.

“As in previous years we are all cycling in aid of Child.org, which has sustained, cared for and saved the lives of thousands of children, mums and people in need across the poorest regions in Africa, and the poorest regions across the world.

“It works with pregnant women, communities and governments to champion community-based solutions and keep mums and babies alive and healthy.”

Micky is a regular at the Elm Tree pub in the town, where he held a quiz night among other events which have raised £4,000 for Child.org.

To donate visit: bit.ly/4h5QxmC