Latest news: Pedal Joe arrives in Johannesburg !

Pedal Joe’s contact in South Africa:
+27-716381332

Brazil was still not classified when the cyclist, environmentalist and photographer José Geraldo de Souza Castro, Zé do Pedal (alias "Pedal Joe"), aged 52, ex-adviser for the Environment of the District LC12 of the Lions Club of Viçosa, Brazil, announced, in January of 2008, his wish to assist to the first Football World Cup that would take place in the African continent while traveling on a children's Go-Kart.

Few believed in the strange dream of this Brazilian who had, by that time, already assisted to two World Cups and had travelled, by bicycle, through more than 56 countries.

The strongest support came from the Dutch company BERG Toys (www.bergtoys.com) who believed in that dream and adapted for him their best model of pedal go-cart, the Berg X - Treme, and equipped it with high durability tires, a polyethylene rim, reinforced transmission train, tortion bar, steel frame, disk brakes on the rear wheels, 7 speed gearbox, head lights, anatomical seat, Saint Anthony, anti-theft system, LED lights, solar panel, rear-view mirrors, and odometers, for the long journey of more than 17.000 kms through 21 countries of Europe and Africa.

Two years and three weeks after having left, on the 10th of May of 2008, the giant structure of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France, and having pedaled across Portugal, Spain, Morocco, Western Sahara, Mauritania, Senegal, Mali, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, Benim, Nigeria, Cameroon, Gabon, the Congolese Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Angola, Namibia and, finally, South Africa, having contracted during that time two malarias, suffered a theft and two assault attempts, Pedal Joe finally arrived last Tuesday, the first of June, at Melrose Arch in Johannesburg, having fulfilled his dream of pedaling during 3049 hours and done the 17350 kms that separate Paris from the South African football capital.

Pedal Joe was received in Melrose Arch by representatives of BERG Toys, members of the Lions Club of South Africa, children and passers-by who cheered him on his final turns of the pedal, which filled his heart with emotion.

Pedal Joe will remain in Johannesburg during the World Cup Top and return to Brazil mid-July. During his stay he plans to visit social undertakings of the Lions Clubs in several cities of South Africa, Lesotho, Swaziland and Mozambique.

For more information about SigthFirst:

http://www.lionsclubs.org

Friends who have collaborated with the project:

Rosfrios Alimentos * supplements
BERG Toys * pedal go-kart
BERG Toys do Brasil * logistics
Deuter do Brasil * camping material
Foto Universitario * photographic material
Buynet * ISP - Internet Provider
Albergues Privados do Caminho de Santiago * food and lodgings
Caminho do Sol-Brasil * travel products
Fernanda Paz - Mindo Falcão * travel products

"In the last 70 years, the World's population has tripled. The demand for water increased six fold. If the present patterns are not modified, in 2025 four billion people will not have access to water."

"Water: a drop, a life... preserve them. For me... for yourself... for our Planet..." Pedal Joe (Zé do Pedal)