We’re excited to share a recent news feature highlighting the upcoming 2026 Budapest-Bamako Freetown Challenge. The segment takes a deep dive into why teams from SPARK2ACTION and ACTION4SCHOOLS are taking on this grueling trek and what it means for the communities we support in Sierra Leone.
A Mission Rooted in Ten Years of Service
In the interview, Joe Boxall, CEO of SPARK2ACTION, discusses the “Kush” drug epidemic currently devastating Sierra Leone’s youth. Having worked in the region for a decade, Joe explains how SPARK2ACTION is fighting back by supporting eight rehab centers and 12-step recovery groups.
Our new, rugged 4×4 isn’t just for show—it’s a vital tool. It will be used to transport young people to remote recovery centers and act as a workhorse for our construction team as we build schools and orphanages for fellow NGOs.
The Long Road: From the Sahara to the Jungle
Trustee Arron Goodfellow walked the cameras through the ambitious 2,500+ mile route. Starting in Morocco, we’ll cross the Sahara into Mauritania and Senegal before the landscape shifts from desert to the lush greens of Guinea and Sierra Leone.
For Arron, the mission is personal. Having seen the effects of addiction within his own family back in London, he’s dedicated to helping Joe provide a path to recovery for those who might otherwise be forgotten.
Partnerships That Make it Possible
No mission of this scale happens in a vacuum. Jimmy Bruzon, Chair of ACTION4SCHOOLS, shared the incredible story of how we secured our “set of wheels.” Thanks to an anonymous and incredibly generous donation from a company in Gibraltar, we now have a vehicle capable of surviving the toughest terrain West Africa can throw at us.
As Joe Boxall put it, “Partnerships are super important. We can’t get by without them.” ## Join the Journey While the news cameras eventually stop rolling, our work is just beginning. As we prepare for this massive undertaking, we invite you to be part of the story. Every donation helps us keep this truck on the road and these schools under construction.
Visit our “Bio Link” page for donation links
A huge thank you to the news team for helping us share our mission. Follow us here for more updates as we prep for the 2026 departure!
