Pedalling for safe water for the poor

15 April 2013 - 02:18 By PHILANI NOMBEMBE
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Susanne and Rasmus Engberg, of Sweden, have cycled close to 21 000km, through 25 countries, to raise funds for the provision of safe water and sanitation
Susanne and Rasmus Engberg, of Sweden, have cycled close to 21 000km, through 25 countries, to raise funds for the provision of safe water and sanitation
Image: SHELLEY CHRISTIANS

Instead of booking themselves into the worlds' top honeymoon destinations, a Swedish couple have cycled from Norway to South Africa so that the poor can have clean water.

Rasmus and Susanne Engberg will arrive at the V&A Waterfront, Cape Town, today after cycling about 21000km.

Reaching Cape Town is a birthday present for Susanne, who turns 26 today.

The couple set off on their journey through 25 countries on June 12, weeks after their marriage. They took up a challenge to raise funds for Water Aid Sweden, an organisation that promotes access to safe water and sanitation.

"We learned about the problem of the lack of safe water in the world and it made us angry," said Rasmus. "When you live in Sweden, fresh water is something you take for granted and we thought that it should be so for all people.

"We wanted to do something that draws attention to this crisis and at the same time raise money for the purpose. So we decided on a different honeymoon on which we could grow as people and help make life better for others."

They arrived in South Africa from Namibia.

The journey has not been without challenges. Among them was Susanne's type1 diabetes.

"It has been difficult to maintain a steady blood-sugar level while we cycled about 100km a day.

"Some days we think we will never put ourselves on a bicycle again; on others we dream of the next cycling adventure."

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