The cross Europe cycle trip aims to raise refugee awareness

What brings together cycling, football and the important cause of refugees? Bjorn Heidenstrom, and his epic journey to cycle and hitch-hike from Norway to South Africa. He is using the uniting force of football to raise funds and awareness of the plight of refugees. To do so, he needs help from clubs and football fans around the globe. 

Bjorn left from the Nobel Peace Centre in Norway June 20 2009, the "World Refugee Day" and has since cycled through many countries including Sweden, Russia, Poland, Denmark, the UK and Switzerland. He will be arriving in Malaga on November 21for ten days of events and meetings and needs your support.

His aim is to create the biggest symbol in the world from the football family by collecting signed shirts from footballs clubs and football fans around the globe. All of these donated shirts will be sewn together to create one huge shirt symbolising unity and passion for both football and the refugee’s plight. This huge shirt will be flown as a flag during the 2010 World Cup and raise much needed media attention for the cause and also positive news about football fans.   

In October this project received a much needed boost in the form of endorsement and pledges of support from both the President of FIFA Sepp Blatter and the President of UEFA Michel Platini. Both men loved the concept and the positive publicity for the football community and offered their support to arrange meetings with clubs on the rest of the journey.

Bjorn Heidenstrom is a passionate football fan who has been working in the beautiful game for many years in the fields of marketing, media, values, Soccer Against Crime, and Valerenga against racism. This trip supports the Norwegian Refugee Council www.nrc.no, a focused charity committed to improving the lives of refugees around the world and raising awareness of an issue which is little publicised.  

How you can help
You can follow his epic 10 month journey through over 50 countries online, via the website www.theshirt2010.net. Bjorn cannot complete this task alone and is asking for football fans and charitable souls to help. He needs:
1.    Signed football shirts from clubs, supporters and amateur teams
2.    Contacts with football clubs and supporters
3.    Bed & breakfast

Bjorn will be arriving in Málaga on 21st November and from then will have 10 action packed days here. Please come along, bringing your football shirts and show your support for this great cause.

   
Costa del Sol Diary
•    21/11 –
o    14.00 - 5-a-Side football Nueva Andalucia
•    22/11 –
o    17.00 - Inchys Bar, Arroyo de la Miel - Málaga v Zaragoza
•    23/11 –
o    11.00 - Press and Sponsors' Launch Vista del Mar, Miraflores
o    18.00- AFA Marbella Presentation  
•    26/11 -  
o    12.00-18.00 - Midas Telecom Open Day, Fuengirola – New Black Cat Pub, Calahonda
•    27/11 -  
o    19.30 - Gala Dinner Vista del Mar, Miraflores,
•    28/11 -  
o    19.30- Coín Hypnotist Show