Luc Apers Bike-packing for Water for All
Luc Apers, an employee from Atlas Copco Airpower in Belgium sets the bar high to raise money for a good cause! Luc is planning to cycle 6666 km in 99 days to raise funds to sponsors a Water for All project in Akoba, Africa. Water for All is Atlas Copco's global volunteer organization committed to potable water and sanitation, thereby contributing to Sustainable Development Goal #6.
6,666km around the North Sea in 99 days
Luc is a Forman at Atlas Copco Airpower in Wilrijk, Belgium. He is also the co-founder of the Atlas Copco bicycle club, which has been running in Wilrijk for the past 18 years. Luc has had the 'Bike Packer' bug for several years now. For those of you who are un-familiar with bike-packing, this means that Luc will carry everything with him on his bike that he needs for the 3 month journey (including a tent!)
After some test rides such as the trip to and the ascent of the Stelvio in Italy (1436 km), the Italian Tuscany trail (597 km) and the 'green divide' in the Netherlands (308 km), he conceived the plan to travel around the North Sea. His aim is to cover no less than 6666 km in 99 days. For this he has ordered a new 'Tout-Terrain' bicycle through Atlas Copco's bicycle leasing program.
Luc will leave Belgium on Saturday 9th April, accompanied by cycling club 'De Reetzweters'. He will regularly post his experiences on a blog/vlog. You can also follow Luc via Strava and Komoot.
North-Sea-Bikepacking (northseabikepacking.be)
Arriving in the UK on Sunday 10th April, Luc will set off from Dover and will spend the next month travelling the East Coast up to the highlands of Scotland, including Orkney and the Shetland Islands. He leaves the UK on the 11th May to arrive in Norway and continue his journey.
If everything goes according to plan, Luc will arrive back in Belgium on July 9th, after a trip through France, the UK, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands.
What makes this crazy trip even more special is that Luc isn't just doing it for the challenge, but he hopes to raise money to bring potable water to Akoba. Cycling for a good cause!
Water for All – Sustainable Development Goal #6
Water for All is Atlas Copco's global volunteer organisation, founded by employees in 1984 and today is present in more than 50 countries. The organisation wants to provide as many people as possible with sustainable access to drinking water and sanitation.
It is employees who take the initiative to bring Water for All to new countries, who voluntarily lead the organisation, and it is they who voluntarily donate to Water for All, usually through monthly donations. For every amount an employee donates, Atlas Copco double matches the amount to Water for All. With these funds, Water for All can set up water and sanitation projects
Water for Akoba
With his bicycle challenge Luc will sponsor a Water for All project in Akoba, Africa. Akoba is a village in the Soclogbo district in central Benin. The village has 900 inhabitants who today only have a modest well and an unreliable hand pump. We hope to raise enough funds to drill a new well and install a solar powered electric pump, including storage tank. For the implementation of the project the Belgium Water for All committee will work together with Adeka, a local non-profit organization that has already successfully completed previous Water for All projects in the region.
More information about Water for All: www.water4all.org