335 days, 20 200km through 19 countries for cystic fibrosis awareness

French national Théotime Massot was just 15 years old when he first learned about cystic fibrosis after discovering that a family friend’s daughter was living with the disease.

Nine years later, the 24-year-old embarked on goal many would call ‘unattainable’. Over the course of 335 days, Massot cycled a staggering 20 200 kilometres through 19 countries, starting from France and finally reaching South Africa on Sunday.

By Wednesday, he had arrived at Cape Agulhas/Cape Point, the southernmost tip of Africa.

His goal? To raise €10 000 (R204 445) in efforts to support cystic fibrosis awareness. He is closing in on that target with less than €3000 (R61 333) left to raise.

Speaking to the Cape Times this week, Massot said cystic fibrosis is a severe respiratory disease with a shortened life expectancy. It also severely affects quality of life, with patients spending hours in hospital undergoing treatments to remove mucus from their lungs.

“I cycled with my father and sister; we did a trip to London to raise awareness, and then again with a friend when I was 17 we cycled to the Arctic Circle,” he said.

After that last ride, they began wondering what challenge could come next. Half-jokingly, his friend said, “South Africa”.

“(It was) a dream so crazy that it seemed unattainable. So, I set myself milestones. First Dakar. Then Abidjan. But each time, the further I went, the more I remembered that initial dream. For seven years, I had carried it within me.”

Massot was working for the French government until September 30 last year, when he decided to embark on a 20 000km adventure with his bicycle. He travelled with a mattress, sleeping bag, repair kit for cycling, clothes for warm and cold weather.

“My goal was to touch the Cape of Good Hope. I had just enough money, took my bicycle and left. The funds are linked to a foundation called Cycling Against Cystic Fibrosis. You need a whole team of people to care for just one person living with the disease,” he said.

After around 15 days of planning, Massot started the journey on October 12, last year cycling an average 100km per day. The shortest day of cycling was 35km in a day.

The route began in Paris and continued through Spain, where Massot reached Tarifa. From there, he took a boat to Tangier, Morocco. What followed was a journey through mountain ranges, the Sahara Desert and the beautiful landscapes of West Africa.

He cycled through 19 countries in total, including The Gambia, Senegal, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Benin, Togo, Congo, Namibia, and finally South Africa.

“I feel really proud of having succeeded in reaching the Cape of Good Hope. In Paris I was a bit afraid, I didn’t know Africa, it seemed so far and impossible. I had some doubts but I had no difficulties during the trip. I enjoyed meeting lots of people, had lots of beautiful moments. I had no trouble in 11 months."

He said there were different things he enjoyed about each country, like the mountains in Morocco, then experiencing 40 degrees of heat in the Sahara, and the hospitality in Sierra Leone where people were friendly and welcoming.

“The best quality I found in Africa was curiosity; people would come and talk to me, the bicycle was amazing especially in Sierra Leone. In Congo it was the culture and people, Namibia the landscape and wildlife, South Africa reminded me a lot of Norway.

“If you always take the time to listen, you will be amazed by all the positive stuff that can happen. The generosity of Gabon, there I had the toughest experience for five days with only R10. I could not take money from the bank; I had an international credit card. I lost 5kg in five days, I was so skinny. People were sharing so much of their food, I learned a lot about solidarity and changed more into (a listener). I have way more to learn from other people than from me telling a story. I met so many people thanks to the food.

"In Windhoek I dropped my tent, I was travelling without a tent, I had to ask people to sleep in the garage, on farms. I also stayed in really fancy houses, people were welcoming me, the happiness was staying with those people, not the house.”

He encouraged others not to be afraid of venturing into the unknown.

“I would say just go for it, leave your doubts behind and you will be so amazed. Just be careful to go to the safe zone, you cannot go into a war zone, (other than that) just go for it, you will see its beauty.”

To reach his fundraising goal, Massot plans to cycle all the way back to France, through East Africa.

Donations to support Massot’s cause can be made through his crowdfunding page: https://www.collectemuco.org/fundraisers/theotime-massot

Cape Times