CHELFORD resident Clive Howlett is taking part in the cycling challenge of a lifetime next year, at the age of 70, for a charity helping people to work their way out of poverty.

Clive is chairman of Knutsford and District Talking Newspaper and a member of the Rotary Club of Macclesfield Castle, and is looking to cycle 500 kilometres from Lusaka to Livingstone in Zambia in May.

He is taking part in CARE International UK’s Lendwithcare Zambia Bike Ride 2020.

Lendwithcare is CARE International’s micro-finance initiative, and helps small-scale businesses in Asia, Africa and South America by providing loans to people who want to work their way out of poverty by starting a small business.

The 2020 trip starts in Lusaka with a night in a bush camp before the cyclists embark on the 500 kilometres ride taking them down to Livingstone, ending at the Victoria Falls.

Clive is training hard for the challenge, and said that any small donation to his fundraising would be gratefully received.

He has raised £2,378 towards his £4,000 target, and if you would like to support him visit justgiving.com/owner-email/pleasesponsor/Clive-Howlett

Clive said: “As a member of Macclesfield Castle Rotary Club I have organised our support for LendwithCare.

“This charity supports small business through partnerships with micro-finance organisations.

“By offering small-scale loans to entrepreneurs through LwC we are able to support others to take themselves out of poverty, and in many cases educate their children.”

Over the past five years Clive has helped Macclesfield Castle Rotary in providing 120 loans to help 508 entrepreneurs. Through these loans 1,636 family members have been supported and 378 jobs created.

Clive added: “By reinvesting the initial loans donations to small-scale entrepreneurs in Africa, Asia and South America have been tripled.

READ>> Council chiefs warned against parking charges

“This has enabled children in remote villages to go to school, medical bills to be paid and lives changed.”

Clive is self-funding his travel to Zambia, so all donations will go direct to Care International UK.

He added: “The lendwithcare organisation is funded by voluntary donations alone. All the money I raise will be donated to lendwithcare.org to enable them to continue offering this wonderful service as I’m funding the trip myself.

“A mere 500 kilometres on a bike at 70 seems a great way to raise funds to support this amazing charity.”