Cycling for Communities: Lycra Creates Impact in Africa

SOTO Consulting Engineers operates on the values of integrity and teamwork, proudly prioritising people, partnerships and the community. One of the many friendships that have seen this commitment transpire to charitable works is that between cycling enthusiasts Frank Soto, Founder of SOTO Consulting Engineers, and Illawarra local, Terry Wall. The two have built a strong 20-year bond over a shared love of cycling that begun at the Illawarra Cycle Club, and have collaborated to support its practice in communities as close as our own Illawarra and far as Zambia, South Africa.

As Terry prepared to compete in the longest bike race in the world, Cairo to Capetown, totalling 12,000kms, he wondered which charity he should support in the process. A fateful encounter with lycra clad cyclists at Bulli Beach introduced Terry to the wonderful works of eXsight Tandems Illawarra, an organisation supporting vision impaired people in the Illawarra region. “I approached Frank and sought his assistance in sponsoring eXsight Tandems. As soon as I outlined the reason for seeking his assistance he jumped at the proposition,” says Terry. “Frank is a major supporter of eXsight Tandems Illawarra and we are proud to have his name on our cycling jerseys to this day. Frank Soto has also supported the Illawarra Cycle Club for many years.” Supporting the local community was something Terry and Frank are passionate about. This shared drive was set to expand its reach all the way to Africa.

Terry Wall has been visiting Africa since 1994, a time marked by adversity and political tumult. “I saw first-hand the hardships people were facing in the camps and the atrocities being carried out whilst the western world sat back and did very little,” recalls Terry. “In 2003 I spent time in the Zambian refugee camp which is located in Mpulungu to manage the intake of Congolese refugees fleeing the Congo.” Terry continued his works with Zambian refugees in subsequent visits during 2008 and 2011, and grew to love Africa and its people.

During his 2011 trip to Zambia, Terry had the opportunity to reconnect with a friend and fellow cyclist he had competed with at the Cairo to Capetown cycling event. “Brian had been following my blog and was keen to meet me. We organised a meeting on our rest day and have kept in touch since,” says Terry, “It was over the last 2 years he told me he was starting a small cycling club in Lusaka. Brian never asked for anything in the way of clothing, I just thought it would be nice to send over some gear. Once again, I contacted Frank who kindly donated several cycling kits to my cause. If you’re reading this Frank, I need more clothing to send again.” Terry has organised the donation of over 100 jerseys to the budding cyclists of Lusaka, with the help and support of Frank Soto and SOTO Consulting Engineers.

The principles of ingenuity through teamwork have guided SOTO Consulting Engineers’ success within and beyond business. They have nurtured unique partnerships, such as the friendship between Frank and Terry, to successfully impact on both a local and global scale.

“I don’t really know who gets more out of this giving, myself or the people who receive a little bit of lycra,” says Terry, who will be calling for more clothing donations in January 2017 to send overseas to Zambia and for donations to eXsight Tandems Illawarra, a registered NSW Charity.

Exsight Tandems provides tandem cycling opportunities for people with vision impairment, or who for any reason can’t ride solo.

Donations can be made online at http://exsighttandems.org.au/. Terry is also a seasoned guest speaker at community events, donating all profits to eXsight Tandems Illawarra. His cycling adventures are well documented on his exciting blog at www.terrywall.blogspot.com.au.