Local man cycles through Rwanda for cow charity

Sunday 16 July 2017

Gary Holmes, who works at Standard Bank Wealth International, has raised over £1,500 for a charity which gives Jersey cows to farmers in Africa by completing a 320km cycle through Rwanda.

The charity, 'Send a Cow', which Standard Bank is supporting for the next two years, seeks to reduce poverty in sub-Saharan Africa by giving farmers essential training and livestock.

Send a Cow is working closely with the Jersey Overseas Aid Commission to train 12,000 smallholder dairy farmers in improved breeding and feeding techniques. Over 246,000 Jersey cows have been distributed to families in Rwanda since 2006 and the breed is highly valued for its heat tolerance, calm temperament and good conversion of grass to milk.

Gary’s journey took him from Rwandan capital Kigali to Lake Kivu, which borders the Democratic Republic of Congo. Part of a team of 12, which included Send a Cow’s CEO and four members of the Rwandan Olympic Cycling Team, the ride took him to remote villages, the country’s northern lakes and into communities supported by Send a Cow.

Gary said: “The altitude and terrain meant that the cycling was tough but meeting people on the way made it all worthwhile. I had a puncture one day and while repairing it, a nearby group of mothers just burst into song for us and we ended up joining in. Materially, the communities we met had very little but their energy and optimism were incredible.

“It was also heartening to see the work of Send a Cow. The charity does not hand out money; instead, it trains people how to farm properly and gives them the necessary start they need, which could be their first cow.”