A decade-and-a-half ago I had the privilege of being part of Mission Malawi and made two unforgettable trips in 2010 and 2012 - raising money in advance for charity and then seeing the results of that in action on the ground. It was all within the framework of a pretty gruelling cycle itinerary but the memories that have stuck with me are not the aching legs and the juddering buttocks (that was one of our favourite phrases) but the incredible welcome, the extraordinary energy in this country: despite being one of the poorest regions in the world, Malawi fully deserves its title as The Warm Heart of Africa.

So 15 years later another group is heading to Malawi in May 2026, but this time upping the stakes. The cycling will still be part of it, but this time we have added mountain climbing and kayaking as ways to get across the country. It will only be about 35 degrees, so why not… However, the most important part comes at the end, when we arrive at the schools and projects which are run by Great Minds Bright Futures. We will help build one of the new school buildings, working with the locals; and, amongst other things, I‘m hoping to teach them some Irish tunes on the tin whistle (thank you Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann for the generous shipment!) and maybe even cúpla focal Gaeilge.

Great Minds Bright Futures supports orphaned and vulnerable children in Malawi and Uganda by providing education, food, clothing, healthcare and activities. It is a small charity with minimal overhead costs, so you can be assured that your donation, of whatever size, has a real and direct impact.