NEWS: Peddling for Peru

Mark McLaughlin
Edinburgh Evening News
July 7, 2009

A FORMER athlete is set to cycle around Arthur's Seat non-stop for 24 hours to raise money for a Peruvian orphanage - clocking up 280 miles in the process.

When Stenhouse-born Drew Sharkey, 35, visited Peru in 2006 he was shocked by the abject poverty he saw in the country's towns and villages, and especially the suffering of children he met.

He passed through the town of Ayacucho, which was left destitute by the march of the Shining Path, a communist movement that launched a guerrilla war in the region in the 1980s and decimated the economy. "The children there have no prospects other than to turn to crime, drugs or prostitution," said Drew, an investment assistant who lives in Crewe Toll.

"The town has never recovered from the rise of the Shining Path. Unemployment in the area is 80 per cent but the children are too proud to beg for money.

"I was touched by the way they would offer to sell you things like little drawings of llamas or colourful necklaces rather than beg for money in the way that people do in our society."

The trip inspired Drew to sponsor a child at the local orphanage, Casa Hogar Los Gorriones (House of the Sparrows) and act to ease suffering in the area.

"I sponsor a 12-year-old child called Emerson whose mother is dead and who father has had several spells in prison," he said.

"His dad's just been convicted again for drug dealing and he's going away for a very long time, but according to the orphanage Emerson is a good kid who studies hard and helps other children."

Drew won several medals at junior, university and national level in track, cross country and steeplechase in the 1990s until a back injury ended his running career. He turned to cycling to get his fitness back, but before long his irresistible competitive urges saw him competing again, winning a silver medal as part of the Scottish Team Time Trial Championships in 2006.

He's now set to mount his bike again for the gruelling 24-hour trial round Holyrood Park on 18 July. The 24-hour bid will require around 80-90 laps round the park covering a distance 280 miles, and has been deliberately designed to be as tough as possible.

He added: "I'd planned to ride to France until a friend asked me why he should donate money for me to go off and have the time of my life in Europe. So I thought about something closer to home.

"I'll be riding practically non-stop, with a five-minute break every two hours and a 15-minute break in the evening for food.

"I don't know if it's possible to ride non-stop for 24 hours - but I'm going to find out!"

Gil Maru, "papa" to the orphanage's 27 children, thanked Drew on behalf of his "little sparrows".

He said: "Ayacucho is the second poorest town of Peru. There are so many abandoned children, who live in the streets using drugs and alcohol.

"I am touched by people like Drew who want to share with those who have nothing."