Team FC Group Cycling Project Put Smiles on Faces of Young Ghanaian Girls with Unconventional Dreams

On Sunday 24th January 2021, Fenton Curley, MD of FC Group, his two cycling prodigies and other team members embarked on a 145-mile trip to the Volta Region of Ghana for the team's best cycling support yet! We donated more cycle kit, sunglasses, and other cycle accessories together with a donation of money from the FC Group in support of the Vida Cycling Programme.

Meeting Clementina Ayoung, one of Ghana's Top Women Cycling Champions and Maxwell Doku, Winner of Accra's end of Year Criterium Race in 2020 - who has represented Ghana in international cycling events with Fenton on Sunday was a key highlight for the Director of the Programme and the young ladies, taking part in the race. Both cyclists sponsored by FC Group and mentored by Fenton were very happy to see young and aspiring cyclists and encouraged them with their achievements. Fenton and the FC team later joined the race taking place on the day and presented winners with FC Group T-Shirts and other gifts. Fenton was extremely impressed with the commitment from Vida to this great cause in all aspects of the Children's lives and wellbeing and really enjoyed spending time with the kids who were extremely courteous and grateful for the FC Groups visit and participation.

Vida is an amid cyclist and passionate about promoting cycling as a healthy lifestyle, bringing gender equality into cycling, and involving the community. Her dream was to become a Cycling Star taking part in international events and is happy that she ended up a cycling instructor, bicycle mechanic and cycling advocator. She was the first female into cycling tourism, instructor, owning and managing a bicycle mechanic shop in her community of Peki Avetile as well in the Volta Region.

She set up Vida Cycling Programme charity in 1990 to teach, empower and change the lives of young Ghanaian girls, with unconventional dreams, not just through cycling but supports all aspects of their lives; accommodation, education, mentoring and general upkeep. Currently she looks after more than 50 abused and under privileged kids from local communities.

The Vida Cycling Programme is set on a 12 Acre site generously donated by a woman named Benedicta Ameyafo Ahovi, witnessed by the Chief of the Community. Track races of up to 1,000m tournaments takes place at the Velodrome, Frandkadua in the Asuogyaman district of Eastern Region, every month. Here the value of Cycling Sport for the younger generation, especially girls, is clearly demonstrated and everyone in the community is encouraged to take active part from a very young age. The bikes are supplied for all by Vida Juliet Vivie who carries out tge maintenance of the bikes with Scott Darku. Read more about the Vida Cycling Programme here >> https://www.facebook.com/Vida-Cycling-Program-VCP-1854670121472578

Fenton would like to express special thanks to all who have donated for this special cause, especially Janice Eastman, Louise Burrell and Gerrard O'Connell, and look forward to working with the Vida Cycling Programme and supporting more community initiatives in Ghana, Nigeria and Kenya.