Bike2MyRoots

A Journey to Build, Explore & Inspire

About Me

A portrait of Emmanuel Adjei

My name is Emmanuel Adjei, born in December 1986 in Accra, Ghana. I am a 37-year-old proud Ghanaian and left for Germany in 2012 to pursue further education. I hold a B.Sc. and M.Sc. in Sports and Exercise Science from the Technical University of Munich (TUM) and currently work as a sports scientist at my university’s hospital for sports medicine and sports cardiology.

Growing up in a sports-enthusiastic nation like Ghana, I excelled in athletics and became a proficient pole vaulter. My affinity for cycling began at age 12, riding my father’s bicycle without permission. However, my newfound hobby was short-lived due to the lack of cycling infrastructure in Ghana. With time, I rekindled my passion for cycling in Munich, Germany, where cycling enjoys a higher precedence among the city dwellers. Since 2020, I have expanded my cycling experiences to include road cycling and bikepacking, embarking on numerous adventures across Europe.

Bike2MyRoots... A Journey to Build, Explore & Inspire

Bike2MyRoots is an innovative charity project, undertaking an epic cycling adventure across Europe and Africa, aimed at transforming the lives of underprivileged children as well as underserved communities in Ghana through education and empowerment. This project leverages the physical, educational, and communal benefits of cycling to create lasting positive change. In Ghana, especially in underprivileged communities, access to basic quality education remains a distant dream for many children. For countless young people, the hope of escaping poverty often lies in football, sidelining education and perpetuating cycles of deprivation. The result? A widening gap between the passion for sports and the fundamental right to education.

The Mission

This cycling project is not solely about seeking the thrills of an adventure or a challenge. Inspired by the saying, “become the change you wish to see in the world,” I am driven to use cycling to mobilize funds, support, and raise awareness to ignite and sustain community-led change through education and empowerment in deprived Ghanaian communities. In cooperation with EduSpots, a locally-based NGO in Ghana, this project aims to support and promote educational opportunities for over 10,000 children and young adults in 50 underserved communities.

The Vision

Bike2MyRoots aims to bridge the gap by using the power of sports—cycling—to champion education. My journey will serve as a platform to:

  • Raise Awareness: Shine a spotlight on the importance of education in transforming lives and communities.
  • Raise Funds: Generate resources to support educational initiatives in underserved communities in Ghana.
  • Inspire Action and Representation: Encourage others to pursue their dreams while giving back to society and create a levelled playing field for inclusive participation.

Why Cycling?

Cycling represents resilience, endurance, and a connection to my roots. It embodies the journey many children in Ghana take—physically and metaphorically—to access education. By cycling from Europe to Africa, I aim to symbolically create representation and draw attention to the challenges and opportunities that lie in education.

What Makes This Journey Unique?

  • A Pan-African Story: The journey traverses 15 countries, showcasing the diversity, challenges, and beauty of the African continent.
  • A Personal Mission: This is not just an adventure; it is my story—one that resonates with countless young Africans striving to make a difference.
  • A First of Its Kind: This feat will make history as the first and only Ghanaian to have undertaken a transcontinental journey by bicycle.

The Journey

This journey evokes mixed reactions from friends, family, and strangers—concern for my safety, admiration for the charity aspect, and awe at the epic challenge. Though challenging, it is driven by my burning desire to transform lives through education and empowerment in deprived Ghanaian communities. Together we ride and rise to create a lasting impact.