TUM alumnus embarks on charity ride from Munich to Accra
10,000 kilometers to promote educational equity
Emmanuel Adjei is an enthusiastic cyclist and has already completed several ambitious tours. But what he plans with “Bike2MyRoots” is a whole new dimension even for him: he will cover around 10,000 kilometers, crossing mountains, seas, and deserts. “It’s a bit crazy – but that’s the point: I want to show the children in Ghana that you can achieve anything – even if it seems a bit crazy at first!”
From Accra to Munich –
Adjei, who grew up in the Ghanaian capital, Accra, was able to follow a path that remains closed to many others. “Education was always important to my parents. And they were able to provide me with an education,” Adjei says. He began learning German – just for fun and out of interest, not knowing that he would one day live in Munich. His love for a German woman who was volunteering on a project in Ghana ultimately led him here.
In Munich, Adjei completed his preparatory studies and enrolled for a Bachelor’s degree in Sports Science at TUM. He went on to complete a Master’s degree in Sport and Exercise Science and now works as a research associate at the Preventive and Sports Medicine Centre for Sports Cardiology at the TUM University Hospital. There, he supports both elite athletes in optimizing their training for peak performance and cancer patients in harnessing sport’s potential for recovery and prevention. This combination of a passion for sports and a desire to help others also drives Bike2MyRoots: “Many children in Ghana don’t have access to such educational opportunities. I want to help change that.”
– and back
On 7 June at 10:00 a.m., Adjei will begin his journey at Luise-Kiesselbach-Platz in Munich, and everyone who wants to support the mission is invited to join. Not only Prof. Martin Halle, Medical Director at the Preventive and Sports Medicine Centre for Sports Cardiology, but also renowned athletes like ski racers Linus StraĂźer, Kira Weidle-Winkelmann, and Sebastian Holzmann are committed to the project. They will accompany Adjei for the first few kilometers.
His route will take him from Munich over the Alps, along the Mediterranean coast, across the Strait of Gibraltar, through the Sahara, and along the rainforests of West Africa to Ghana. That’s not without danger, of course. “But when I have an idea, I have to follow through,” laughs Adjei. He has spent months planning the journey, making contacts – and training, training, training.
After all, the journey is long, and its goals are ambitious. Along the way, Adjei wants to engage with as many teachers and students as possible, share his story, and encourage children to pursue their own paths.
He also aims to raise at least 100,000 euros to support educational work on the ground. For this, he is partnering with the educational NGO “EduSpots.” Adjei emphasizes that transparency and a sustainable approach were key to choosing a partner. The organization uses the funds to build educational spaces in disadvantaged communities and to train local people to provide long-term educational support for their communities. “Only in this way can we break the vicious cycle of poor infrastructure, lack of educational opportunities, and limited future prospects,” Adjei is convinced. It’s not just about improving access to education but also about educational equity. Therefore, Adjei and EduSpots are especially committed to giving women equal access to education and work: “All children should have the opportunity to lead a good life – no matter where they live, how wealthy they are, or what gender they are.”
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- Konstantin Götschel – TUM CST Communications
- konstantin.goetschel@tum.de
