A Forfar couple travelled 1,000km by motorbike across Zambia to raise awareness of the difficulties health workers face in the African country.
Ken Stirling, 53, followed the dirt tracks and trails health workers use in their day-to-day work.
He was one of 12 taking part in the Riders for Health Experience Africa team, which enables the charity’s supporters to experience the transport challenges first hand.
His wife Kate was part of the support group, who travelled in two 4x4s.
Ken said: “One of the biggest problems in Zambia when it comes to accessing health care is a lack of reliable transport.
“Riders for Health provide reliable, sustainable transport for health workers, such as motorcycles, and train health workers how to ride and maintain them.
“This ensures they can reach the most rural communities to run clinics, advise pregnant mothers and vaccinate children.”
The couple each raised £2,000 for the charity ahead of their visit enough to purchase two motorbikes for health workers.
They started their journey in Lusaka before travelling south to Monze.
The route then took them to Lake Kariba and on to the town of Choma where they met an environmental health technician who took then to an outreach health clinic.
“Some of the hardest terrain we encountered were the sandy tracks between villages on the rides accompanying these health workers, and they are doing this day in day out,” said Ken.
“It was an incredible experience.
“Being able to ride with health workers, visit the most rural communities in Zambia and see how the work of Riders for Health is saving people’s lives really is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
“One of the highlights of the trip was the sight of the women queuing up outside the clinic to have their babies weighed.
“Some had walked many miles to get there and some had one baby strapped to the back, and one to the front, but still they appeared happy and always smiling.”