A BIKER from Bicester is gearing up to ride 2,500 miles across Africa for charity.
Married father-of-four Les Cleeve will brave extreme temperatures and mountainous terrain to ride a 200cc Honda motorcycle across the continent.
Lifelong motorbike fan Mr Cleeve, 56, of Titchener Close, is tackling the Enduro Africa challenge to raise money for Unicef, The Princes' Fund for Lesotho and the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund.
He will be one of 200 riders from across the world delivering motorbikes to aid workers in the South Africa during the adventure in October.
He said: "It's going to be very, very hot.
"Because we're going over the mountains we're probably going to get extremes of temperature.
"It will be very dusty, actually quite dangerous in parts.
"It's all cross country - you're going up mountains and it is quite steep.
"The terrain is quite dangerous. It's basically going to be a challenge and a bit.
"It will be superb scenery. It's an experience not to be repeated."
Mr Cleeve will fly to Durban before riding into the centre of the country on an eight-day trip to deliver his bike.
On the way he will also visit development projects run by the charities and plans to take some small bags full of books and pens to hand out to youngsters on his way.
Mr Cleeve, who has never been to Africa before, added the motorbikes would make a crucial difference to aid workers on the ground.
He said: "They use motorbikes to get to places you can't really walk to so the bikes let the medics get out and make a major impact."
Mr Cleeve, who has had a love of motorbikes since he was a child and hopes to raise at least £5,000, said: "I like the freedom, it is absolute freedom.
"You feel the weather."
To sponsor Mr Cleeve, write to him at 2 Titchener Close, Bicester, OX26 2BZ.
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