The Plan

Hi FOBs and anyone else reading this.  I'm John Laing, aged 28, and resident in the UK. I'm also a Zimbabwean National with UK citizenship and work in the financial sector for Goldman Sachs.

I am trying to raise funds to enable my old school, Falcon College (see http://www.falconcollege.com/)  to improve the facilities at the College. My current fundraising project is to drive length of Africa, departing on 10th October 2006 and following the legendary east coast route for an estimated journey of three months.

This ‘Africa Challenge’ is a perfect opportunity to raise money for Zimbabwe’s leading senior school to continue to give solid education to people who – I hope – go on to effect change for the better in what is now one of the poorest countries in the world.

Any funds I raise on my expedition will go directly to the Falcon College Overseas Trust, which has been responsible for several large fundraising projects in recent years. The Trust is registered with the Charities Commission, Charity No: 294169.

During my trip I intend to stop at local villages along the route and distribute toys and books – toys for the amusement of the local children; books as a way of helping the adults improve their literacy skills. I already have a considerable stock of books and toys donated by friends and family and I am still collecting!

I believe this is a very worthy cause and as well as helping a leading African school to continue its important community role.