Rider gears up for 6,000 miles

A motorcycle enthusiast is planning to ride across 12 countries on a 6,000-mile round trip from Newark to eastern Turkey in aid of charity.

Mr Andy Hawkins, 43, of Robinson Close, Newark, will ride to Mount Ararat, the resting place of Noah’s Ark, in September on his Triumph Tiger 955i.

He is hoping to raise about £5,000 for the Guide Dogs For The Blind Association. Mr Hawkins works voluntarily for the charity as a schools ambassador. He will also raise money for Unicef.

Mr Hawkins, a self-employed IT consultant, visited a year-seven geography class at The Grove School, Balderton, on Friday to talk about his trip. His son, Seb, 11, is a pupil in the class.

The class will base their geography studies on the countries Mr Hawkins will ride through.

An inter-house competition is being organised to design a flag that Mr Hawkins will carry during his trip.

Mr Hawkins has been riding motorcycles since 1995. He previously took part in car racing and rallying.

He will be joined on the trip by two support riders, Mr Brian Hill and Mr Richard Wilkes, both of Beacon Heights, Newark.

Mr Hawkins said he chose to ride to Mount Ararat after reading about the area in a motorcycle book. He said it was just far enough to take him into another continent.

Next year he plans to ride through Africa and he said this year’s trip would give him an idea of what challenges he would face then.

The September ride will take about 16 days, travelling up to 500 miles a day.

The outward route to Turkey will go through England, France, Switzerland, Italy and Greece. The return leg will take in Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, Austria, Germany and Holland.

Mr Hawkins will carry a satellite-tracking system allowing people to follow his progress on his website, www.touratiger.org

He will film a video diary, which will be available on DVD afterwards.

Mr Hawkins can be sponsored via his website.