FOCUS Challenge: Bike4Life Mali 2010
Please find below a list of frequently asked questions on Bike4Life 2010 Mali. For further information please contact us.
How are we getting there and back?
What do I need in order to travel to Mali?
Do I need to be a professional athlete to complete the Challenge?
How old do I need to be to take part?
What is this year’s fundraising target?
What happens if I am unable to raise the funds?
What is included in the cost of the trip?
Do I need a bike? (not as silly as it sounds)
Where will we be staying during the Challenge?
This year’s FOCUS challenge is taking place in Mali, West Africa.
The weather is going to be hot, the challenge will be tough, the culture will be amazing, and the satisfaction when you complete the challenge will be simply unimaginable.
All the details about Mali and what it offers can be found at a familiar location: >http://www.lonelyplanet.com/mali
This year's challenge is a 400km cycle through the Mali desert from Mopti to Djenne. We are cycling for 5 days, with daily distances ranging between 70-100kms. We hope to visit several AKDN projects in Mali during our travels - click here to read about AKDN's work in Mali.
How are we getting there and back?
We will be departing London on 25 December 2010, flying into Bamako, Mali. We will then get a transfer to Mopti, where our challenge begins.
Our return flight to London departs Bamako on Monday 3 January 2010, arriving in London early evening.
What do I need in order to travel to Mali?
All UK residents require a visa to travel to Mali. Visa applications must be sent to the consulate in Brussels, Belgium.
Also, each participant will need to have an immunisation card showing a valid yellow fever vaccination. Current recommended vaccinations are tetanus, rabies, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, meningitis as well as malaria preventative medicine. Please consult your GP for the most up to date advice and information.
Do I need to be a professional athlete to complete the Challenge?
Not at all. You must however be reasonably fit and be prepared to stretch yourself.
Whilst a sufficient level of fitness is required, this should be achievable with good training and preparation.
How old do I need to be to take part?
Participants need to be 18 years of age or above. If under 18, participants need to be accompanied by a parent or guardian. The parent or guardian will be required to raise the full fundraising amount and complete the challenge.
Back to Questions ListWhat is this year’s fundraising target?
The deposit required to secure your place on this event is as below:
UK: £250 / Europe: €300 / USA: $350 / Canada: $400
There is a strict and enforced fundraising element to the FOCUS Challenge event. This year, we have set the fundraising targets as follows:
European/UK/Rest of World participants:
£3500 / €4150 (includes all travel and tour costs)
£2700 / €3200 (if making your own travel arrangements to Bamako)
USA participants:
USD $3000 (fundraising element)
USD $1900 (contribution towards travel and tour costs) / USD $800 (contribution towards travel and tour costs if making your own travel arrangements to Bamako)
Canadian participants:
CAD $3300 (fundraising element)
CAD $2050 (contribution towards travel and tour costs) / CAD $850 (contribution towards travel and tour costs if making your own travel arrangements to Bamako)
What happens if I am unable to raise the funds?
Everyone has to meet the minimum fundraising targets. If you don't raise the funds you will be required to contribute the remaining balance yourself. Don't worry - we will provide you with as much support as possible in your fundraising endeavours, but the onus is on each participant to make the effort. Watch out for further communications on fundraising and tips and tricks in the Fundraising section of our website.
Back to Questions ListWhat is included in the cost of the trip?
The costs associated with the trip include:
- Return Flights from London to Bamako
- All transfers along the Challenge route
- All meals and accommodation during the event.
This does not include visa, personal expenses, meals on rest day, tips, travel to or accommodation in London. Those wishing to make their own travel arrangements to Bamako are also able to do so.
Back to Questions ListYes, you can. More details will be available later.
Back to Questions ListDo I need a bike? (not as silly as it sounds)
On the ground in Mali, bikes will be provided by the tour company we are travelling with. The bikes will be checked by our team prior to the event to ensure they are of suitable standard for the challenge event.
Participants will be required to provide their own protective gear (including but not restricted to helmet, gloves, joint supports, etc).
Where will we be staying during the Challenge?
We will be staying in a mix of hotels and tents during the Challenge. We will begin and end our trip with stays in hotels however while we are on the road, we will be staying in tent campsites set up for us prior to our arrival.
Sometimes in life, you’ve just got to go for it and believe. It will be an awesome experience from the first Pound/Euro/Dollar you raise to the last kilometre you cycle.
Read the quotes, watch the videos, talk to the FOCUS team or any ex-participants. The love for this Challenge is quite like no other. Be part of the 2010 story and write a new chapter in the history of the FOCUS Challenge.
If you have further questions that are not answered here, please feel free to contact us.