A MARYLEBONE man hit a tricky spot while on a mission to construct HIV shelters across Africa.
Jon Beswick, of Great Titchfield Street, headed off on a 48,000km trip across the vast continent with his friend Charlie Curtis, 26, to build the treatment centres on March 14.
The pair have been keeping an online diary of their progress, and have so far made it to Senegal.
Their truck, a Land Rover, became stuck in sinking sand while crossing the border into the country and spent three hours digging themselves out.
Mr Beswick wrote in the diary: "In the end we jacked up the car and dug under the wheels to get sand ladders underneath. The homemade jack stand worked a treat.
"Unfortunately it's now buried about three foot under sinking mud and is never coming out again. Then we hit a deep ditch in the middle of the road - no more night driving."
Mr Beswick and Mr Curtis had to be towed out by a military vehicle early the next morning and a group of locals managed to fix the vehicle".
They have raised more than £10,000 towards building materials and wages for local people to help build shelters through sponsorship and selling advertising space on the side of their car.
Any leftover money will go towards One to One Children's Fund, which helps young people with HIV in Africa.
The route will take them through 40 African countries, in a Land Rover which has been modified to include a fridge, water purification unit and tank, all terrain tyres and stiffened suspension.
Before he left, Mr Beswick, who works as an architect, said: "We plan to use our skills as architect and management consultant to design and build shelters. I'm developing plans for an outdoor shelter and community area to be used as a waiting room, aimed at preventing the further spread of airborne disease amongst vulnerable children.
"The design will be refined as the journey progresses depending on available resources."
To support the pair, visit www.justgiving.com/ontheedge or follow their progress at www.ontheedgeofafrica.com
