TIMES OF MALTA
Kevin and Perry. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli
A Maltese national has partnered with a British colleague to take part in the legendary Paris to Dakar rally, which is being held between September 29 and October 13.
Kevin Camilleri, 43, is the first Maltese taking part in the rally. His partner, Perry Newton, 45, is also doing the race for the first time.
The two men, who are senior managers at the Azure Resorts Malta, have a history of biking but both got into biking together four years ago.
They told a news conference this morning that they have been training for the race with the Desert Rose Racing team, which is owned by Patsy Quick, the first British woman to complete Dakar rally in 2006.
Their training has taken them to the UK, Morocco and other countries. Their bikes are currently in England, where they will be going on Saturday.
The race starts on September 29 from under the Eifel Tower in Paris, goes through Spain, Morocco and Mauritania and will finish in Dakar, Senegal on October 13.
The team will be travelling around 500 kilometres every day. Both men admitted it would be a gruelling challenge and “We hope we will be waving the Maltese flag on the finish line”.
Mr Camilleri said that travelling across these environments could be troublesome as the bike could easily sink in the sand and getting it out could take 30 minutes in 45 degrees Celsius.
Mr Newton said the hardest thing would be navigation since participants could not use GPS and were on their own during the race.
In a message President George Abela said some sportsmen were a little crazy and that could apply to these two men.
“What they’re doing is a really tough test. I wish them all the best and I hope they take care of their health.”
The race cost Mr Camilleri and Mr Newton between €70,000 and €80,000. They each paid €20,000 out of their own pockets and collected the rest from sponsors.
The two men are doing the race to raise money for the Community Chest Fund, Unicef UK and Cancer Research UK.
They hope to raise at least €5,000 for each charity.
Raising money for charity is an extra incentive for them to finish, Mr Camilleri said. He encouraged the Maltese public to show their support and generosity by donating to the chosen causes.
Donations can be made by SMS on 5061 6134 (€1.16),5061 7387 (€2.33), 5061 8064 (€4.66), 5061 8936(€6.99) or 5061 9231 (€11.64).
