The first ever North Coast 100k charity cycling challenge will start at 10am in Larne on Saturday, July 25 with the return trip to Cushendun aimed at raising funds to purchase building materials for a multi-purpose centre for orphans.

Ed Tease from Moira, who is charity director of Make a Difference in Malawi, spoke of the haunting images he encountered during a visit to Africa.

“I entered into a dark room, broken glass in the window covered with a sheet, in amongst the clothes on a dusty concrete floor lay a urine-filled foam mattress and above it a shredded mosquito net.

“To my disbelief lay a two-year-old child with a fever, dying of AIDS. I broke down for a while, I will never forget this experience and many others since it. This is what compels me to try and make a difference,” he said.

To register for the event you can give your contact details to Ed on 07789 595564 and he will send out an information pack or email admin@makeadifferenceinmalawi.co.uk and log on to the charity website www.makeadifferenceinmalawi.co.uk

Volunteers are also needed to help with the work and fundraising, again if you would like to get involved please contact Ed. There will be a family fun day at the beach park at Cushendun and a barbecue at Larne Leisure Centre at the finish line as part of the fundraising activities.

All entrants will be entered into a prize draw for two nights’ B&B in the Ballygally Castle Hotel and there are also many other prizes.