Pair reach Broome on final leg of expedition

Stopping in Broome last week after riding their quad bikes more than 60,000km through 38 countries, Jamie Kenyon and Ted Davant are gearing up to finish Expedition Quad Squad, aiming to raise $100,000 for Oxfam’s fight against global poverty.

During their trip from Istanbul to Sydney, they broke the record, previously 27,141km, on May 4 this year.

The friends from Sydney started out as a group of three young men attempting to create a world record for the longest quad bike ride and, at the same time, raise money for food, water, sanitation, education, agriculture, livestock and preventing HIV/AIDS in Africa.

But in May this year, the third member of the group, Valerio De Simoni, 24, died after his quad was hit by a speeding car being pursued by police in Malawi. His mates have honoured him by continuing the journey, and after almost a year travelling the world, they returned to Australian soil last month.

The last leg of their journey began in Perth, inland to Kalgoorlie, through the centre of Australia to Uluru, and, three days shy of 13 months, they made it to Broome.

This week, they reached Kununurra and are now en route to Darwin, then down the east coast to finish their expedition in Sydney next month.

Mr Kenyon said they had been blown away by generosity everywhere, especially in Australia’s country towns.

In Broome, the pair thanked Motorhouse for servicing their bikes, Seashells for accommodation and Divers Tavern and its patrons for participating in a fundraising evening last Wednesday.

“The corporate guys have been great but it’s also the average Joe on the street who are putting in their $20 or $50 here and there, or help us with whatever we’ve needed,” Mr Kenyon said.

“So far we’ve raised $35,000, and we’ve had really strong support within Australia, probably up to $10,000 of that has been since being back.”

As they shake the tin along the last leg, they have confidence the generosity they have witnessed so far will continue and they will collect the last $60,000.

In life before the trip, Mr Kenyon worked with his family’s computer company and Mr Davant was a business consultant. Neither had done much camping. During their journey, they have tackled long hours on the bikes, from the chill of Europe to the deserts of Africa and the wide open spaces of Australia.

Visit www.expedition.org.au.