< Story on Bikes 2020 Archives – Mamie Martin Fund

Tag: Story on Bikes 2020

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Story on Bikes launch

Our ‘Story on Bikes’ bike ride has been a real success. An important aspect of that success has been the connections made or strenghtened with like-minded organisations. We were grateful to be able to launch the ride from the birthplace of David Livingstone in Blantyre, Scotland on Saturday August 1st. Douglas Hay, a Trustee of the David Livingstone Trust, welcomed us to the site where our Scottish Patron, Alison Cameron, sent the riders on their way. They were headed to Tarbet, Loch Lomond, the home of Mamie Martin. 

The site in Blantyre has been sadly neglected during lockdown but we all hope to visit again once it is possible to have volunteers back on site and when the restoration work is complete.

The cyclists had ridden from Edinburgh the previous day and they cycled to Balloch from Blantyre, visiting Tarbet on the Sunday. A warm welcome awaited them there – and look out for that video story. Mamie would be happy to know that connections between Scotland and Malawi are still so strong and that her conviction about the necessity of educating girls is now widely accepted as true around the world. The Story on Bikes project raised more than £5k for the education of girls in Malawi. Thanks to the numerous people who made this possible. 

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MMF cyclists welcomed to the Livingstone Centre

Our cyclists were delighted to be welcomed to the David Livingstone Centre in Blantyre today. Both organisations paid tribute to David Livingstone and Mamie Martin, Scots who were important in the history of Malawi-Scotland relations. Douglas Hay, a Trustee of the David Livingstone Trust, welcomed the riders to Blantyre. Douglas said ‘it is a pleasure to welcome the Mamie Martin Fund to the birthplace of David Livingstone, thereby bringing together the stories of these Scots who contributed so much to Malawi. We are delighted that the legacy of their work so long ago is continuing to benefit Malawi through the education of its girls.’

The David Livingstone Birthplace site has been undergoing a major refurbishment project, which will be a vibrant new visitor destination that includes an exciting new exhibition, which will engage all ages, as well as a transformed shop and café.

The bike ride was launched by Alison Cameron, who was a nurse in Malawi and is a Patron of the Mamie Martin Fund. The ride is heading to Tarbet, Loch Lomond, where Mamie Martin grew up. Mamie left there in 1921 to go to Malawi with her husband Jack. Mamie saw the need to support the education of girls in Malawi and that work which she started is continued today by the Mamie Martin Fund. An extract from Mamie’s letters was read at Blantyre and another piece will be read at Tarbet. 

As well as those who are cycling the route, 42 people are doing the equivalent distance at home on the stay-at-home version which has been so popular. The stay-at-home riders are based in Scotland, Ireland and England – an international effort! You can encourage the riders on the fund-raising page.  

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Cycling for Malawi – 70 years on

In 1950, seven-year old Sally enjoyed riding her bike. She says ‘It’s 70 years since I was that child. First bike, a Hercules, I had loads of freedom to go off with friends. I learnt on the City Playground in Newbury (England), grass being softer to fall on than Tarmac.’ 

Now a lot older, Sally bought an exercise bike on the grounds that it would be safer than braving the streets of Edinburgh, where she lives. Even in lockdown, she is right about that! Sally took delivery of the parts and was a bit daunted – ‘The trusty steed has arrived. Once I can figure out the 5 allegedly simple steps to put it together I will be in business.’ A cup of tea later she tackled it and was delighted to ‘be in business’.

Sally is registered on the Stay-at-Home version of Story-on-Bikes and has already logged her first miles. If you would  to join Sally, the booking link is http://StoryonBikes2020.eventbrite.com. You could encourage her with a donation on  http://virginmoneygiving.com/fund/Story-on-Bikes. Our hashtag on Twitter and Instagram is #storyonbikes