Five reasons to get on your bike for Farm Africa

On 15 and 16 August, #TeamFarmAfrica will be making the most of their weekend by taking part in My Prudential RideLondon, the first virtual event of the largest cycling festival in the world.

My Prudential RideLondon is an exciting, free event that will enable riders of all ages and abilities to cycle a range of distances, based on the events included in the traditional Prudential RideLondon weekend from wherever they are in the world, have fun and raise crucial funds for their chosen charity. Farm Africa riders will have the option of taking part in the virtual Sesame Cycle, wherein teams or individual cyclists will cover 66 miles to match the distance between two sesame farms that Farm Africa supports in coastal Kenya.

How are we supporting sesame farms?

Farm Africa is working to breathe new life into Kenya’s cashew industry by training farmers to plant sesame crops between the cashew trees to optimise land use and diversify income streams. The project is helping 15,000 smallholders establish or develop a profitable cashew and sesame business; which includes further training in agricultural best practice for farmers to become certified organic farmers, and command higher prices.

Sounds good? Simply sign up individually or with your restaurant team to cycle for Farm Africa and choose your distance, your wheels, your way! Still unsure?

Here are five great reasons to push it to the pedal and take part in the Sesame Cycle this summer:

1. The perfect way to unwind

2020 so far has certainly been a rollercoaster. Rolling down the road on your bike, however, has been shown to improve mental wellbeing – the endorphins released in the brain through physical activity help us deal with stress and think more positively. So sitting in the saddle is a great way to unwind and feel refreshed after the demands of a stressful week.

2. Al fresco dining

As days become lighter for longer, there is more time to go for a spin after a busy day. Set your destination to support a restaurant that has re-opened its doors after lockdown with a beautiful outdoor dining experience. A delicious dinner after your Sesame Cycle will certainly be rewarding! If you live in London, here are a few recently opened restaurants that are 66 miles away on a safe cycle route: The Wild Rabbit, Oxfordshire and The Pig – at Bridge Place, Canterbury.

3. Feel good for you

Cycling is a fantastic low impact activity, which means it causes fewer strains and injuries than many other forms of exercise. Riding a bike is like…well, riding a bike – you never really forget how it’s done. People of all ages and levels can cycle, so whether you ride one mile or 66 miles for Farm Africa, you are improving your cardiovascular fitness to get your heart, blood vessels and lungs pumping.

4. Feel good for farmers

Farm Africa's fundraising activity has been heavily impacted by COVID-19. However, it is not the only crisis farmers in eastern Africa are currently facing. The worst outbreak of desert locusts in 70 years is happening at the same time, threatening to worsen the already dire food security situation in the greater Horn of Africa. Our fundraising calendar is a vital source of income for Farm Africa - income that helps us deliver life-changing projects in eastern Africa. Sign up to the Sesame Cycle to help farmers unleash their potential to feed Africa’s people at this crucial time; pioneering techniques that boost harvests, reduce poverty and sustain natural resources.

5. Take a great photo

Perfect your photography skills by capturing your Sesame Cycle at sunset in the glowing oranges and pinks, or showcase your smile wearing Farm Africa’s iconic green cycling jersey. Once you’ve signed up to My Prudential RideLondon, contact Farm Africa’s Event Team and we can pop one in the post. Don’t forget to tag your photos to @farmafrica on Twitter or @farm_africa on Instagram so we can enjoy your fundraising challenge too!

“I’m proud to be taking part in My Prudential RideLondon for Farm Africa. I‘m cycling 66 miles, the distance between two of sesame farms we support in Kenya, in solidarity with farmers in eastern Africa. We’re aiming for #TeamFarmAfrica to cycle a collective distance of 2,000 miles on 15-16 August. Join us, and together we’ll reach our goal.” Dan Collison, CEO at Farm Africa.

Sign up to join #TeamFarmAfrica in advance before 15 and 16 August to ensure you get to cycle in style with one of our colourful jerseys. Find out more at www.farmafrica.org/cycle/myridelondon

In these challenging times…

The Staff Canteen team are taking a different approach to keeping our website independent and delivering content free from commercial influence. Our Editorial team have a critical role to play in informing and supporting our audience in a balanced way. We would never put up a paywall – The Staff Canteen is open to all and we want to keep bringing you the content you want; more from younger chefs, more on mental health, more tips and industry knowledge, more recipes and more videos. We need your support right now, more than ever, to keep The Staff Canteen active. Without your financial contributions this would not be possible.

Over the last 16 years, The Staff Canteen has built what has become the go-to platform for chefs and hospitality professionals. As members and visitors, your daily support has made The Staff Canteen what it is today. Our features and videos from the world’s biggest name chefs are something we are proud of. We have over 560,000 followers across Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube and other social channels, each connecting with chefs across the world. Our editorial and social media team are creating and delivering engaging content every day, to support you and the whole sector - we want to do more for you.

A single coffee is more than £2, a beer is £4.50 and a large glass of wine can be £6 or more.

Support The Staff Canteen from as little as £1 today. Thank you.