A MEDAL-WINNING Uttoxeter swimmer has returned from Africa after swapping the pool for his bike to raise valuable funds for the poverty ridden continent.
Adam Peaty, of Byrds Lane, rode his bike for a 280 mile ride across Zambia, from Livingstone to Lusaka, to raise money to support the work of Sport in Action and HIV/AIDS hospice care in Lusaka.
The mammoth challenge saw the 17-year-old cycle 493km over four days, in very hot, dry conditions, with the temperature on one of the days reaching 43 degrees.
Adam said: “It was hard but awesome and amazing and I coped well with the camping.
“The most enjoyable part was working with Sport in Action as I was directly with the children.” He said he found of his life-changing experience that the people had very little, but were happy and very friendly.
The teenager said: “They could make something little into something useful. The schools had very little equipment.
“I have seen first hand where the money raised has gone, with equipment, facilities and a pool.”
Adam joined some famous faces for the challenge with double Olympic champion Rebecca Adlington, Olympic bronze medallist Jo Jackson, former Commonwealth champion Ross Davenport and exswimmer Mel Marshall also taking part.
The team set out from Livingstone on a four day Bike for Africa challenge, supported by British Gas and UK Sport, to the capital Lusaka.
En-route they visited a number of projects, also supported by UK Sport, such as ‘Go Sisters’ which empowers girls and women through sport.
Once in Lusaka they gave swimming lessons at a pool that has been renovated with £13,000 raised at a charity ball by Ms Marshall and where sport sits side-by-side with AIDS education workshops in a country experiencing a HIV/AIDS epidemic.
During his visit Adam also said enjoyed observing the wildlife and took pictures of elephants, antelope, giraffes and the sunsets.
He added: “The Victoria Falls were amazing. I would like to thank Dawnies Cafe for raising £260, Uttoxeter cycles for giving their time free to prepare my bike for the ride, friends and neighbours for their kind donations and also to Jen and Bob of the Uttoxeter Action Group who also kindly supported me.”
After his epic adventure, Adam has now set off for his World Class Development Camp in Taunton for his swimming.
