In January two Sydneysiders will embark on the trip of a lifetime.
Patrick Cantwell and Wayne Woodward have signed up to cycle the Tour D’Afrique, 11,800 kilometres across 10 African countries in 120 days, with 93 of those on the road.
The Tour D’Afrique donates bicycles to health care professionals in Africa and promotes projects that protect the environment.
Cycling an average of 123 kilometres a day, the couple will pass through Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Botswana, Namibia and South Africa.
In all but Egypt and South Africa, homosexuality is illegal, with repeat offenders facing the death penalty in the Sudan, while other countries along the way punish gays with prison sentences of anywhere between one and 15 years.
A number of these countries are also dealing with political unrest.
“Several of these countries have had a terrible recent history of humanitarian disasters,” said Cantwell, a paramedic by trade.
“Sudan has only recently come out of a 25-year civil war. Two years ago the Tour d’Afrique had to over-fly Kenya due to disturbances there following their national elections.”
Despite all this, the pair are not fazed.
“Although we are an openly gay couple, I do not believe this is sufficient reason to avoid travel to these places,” Cantwell said, “After all, even some of our near neighbours have draconian laws.
“There are gay people in all of the countries we are cycling through, and we hope to meet them on our journey. I hope that by making contact we will give these people some inspiration in their struggle for equal rights.”
The couple’s journey will end in the only African nation to have legalised same-sex marriage.
“It’s quite fitting that the journey will end in South Africa, a country with an incredibly troubled history, yet now a country with possibly the most progressive equal rights for its gay and lesbian citizens.”
Cantwell and Woodward have previously trekked through Asia and South America, and have climbed the peak of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania and seen wild gorillas in Rwanda, but this is the first time they’ve taken on a challenge this big.
“I know that in life you can achieve anything you put your mind to,” Cantwell said.
“I’m sure we will gain some lifelong friends amongst the other 50 race participants and certainly some incredible memories.”