FROM Bendigo all the way to Uluru, one man is riding his bike to raise money and awareness for charity.<\/p>\n
Brad Hodge, chair of the I Am Someone charity, is currently training for the 2229-kilometre trip to the heart of Australia.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve done these kinds of rides before, but I\u2019ve never done anything quite this long, and certainly not this dry,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI like an adventure; I like a challenge and it gives me a reason to get some fitness and that\u2019s really useful in winter. But also, having the dual purpose of building exposure for the organisation.\u201d<\/p>\n
I Am Someone supports locally driven projects across Africa, in countries like Uganda, Sierra Leone and Kenya.<\/p>\n
Mr Hodge, who works in the rural health school at La Trobe University, said the work the charity does aligns with his professional interest.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe work that we do in I Am Someone is all focused on supporting communities and children in rural and remote areas,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The charity has been responsible for setting up schools, building homes, loaning rice and agriculture projects such as building milling machines in Africa.<\/p>\n
For 15 years the not-for-profit organisation has been supporting some kids throughout their schooling, and Mr Hodge said a big focus of their work is getting children in remote communities into higher education.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re coming back to us with the grades they need to go to university and the determination to change the world a little bit,\u201d he said. \u201cIn terms of outcome that stuff is gold.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Hodge said the charity is fully volunteer based and prides itself on being able to donate all money, and provide support directly to, local communities.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne of our core beliefs is that when you pay $10 that $10 should go directly to the projects overseas so we have a really strong commitment to that,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The ride will see Mr Hodge travelling 120 kilometres per day, with just four rest days.<\/p>\n
He\u2019s set himself a goal of $10,000 to raise, with money funding crucial water projects in African communities.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt would allow us to improve the water security dramatically of a couple of our projects,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne of our projects, they need a well. They really haven\u2019t got secure water and another one is in desperate need of repairs.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe start of everything is water, you can\u2019t do agriculture without water, you can\u2019t eat without water so that\u2019s why we\u2019ve chosen to put money towards water for these projects.\u201d<\/p>\n