They say that a great idea is not enough for success. You’ve got to have the guts to follow your aspirations, to walk the line, to work hard hours, to climb the mountain. Not many people dare to take the step into the abyss of the unknown.
Bjørn Heidenstrøm is the man with the idea and the gut. For a long time he had a dream to unite football community around a cause of anti-racism by cycling from Oslo (Norway) to Cape Town (South Afrika) and collecting the football shirts from all over the world.
His ambition is to make the largest football shirt ever made, which will flutter under the opening of the FIFA World Cup. The shirt is the symbol that there is one big football family, which doesn’t forget even the smallest clubs and teams – and that it stands strong and united against the racism.
Today the dream became a reality. He put on his helmet, said bye to his family and friends – and started his 10 (!) months long journey. From Olso he is cycling to Stockholm, Finland, Russia, the Baltics, and the rest of Europe in more or less logical order. In December he has an agreement with a cargo ship that will take him from Turkey to Syria and further to the African continent. Altogether, Bjørn is going to transit more than 50 countries, including the most dangerous places like Congo and Sudan.
All he got with him is his mobile phone, a camera and a laptop, and he relies on us, the internet community to guide him through his journey. He hopes that we can help him with local tips and advices, couch to sleep on, places and people to see. He wants us all to be a part of this adventure, which can easily turn into the nightmare if we don’t stretch out the hand to help him through.
I encourage everyone to keep an eye on Bjørn – he is in it for all of us who wants to change the world for the better, even if it’s just a little. Let’s prove that social media really works – and that it is for real.
Bjørn is blogging about his adventures at http://theshirt2010.net
Follow Bjørn on Twitter: @heidenstrom
Note: the author of this blog has no commercial deal with Bjørn Heidenstrøm
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
I respect anyone who fights for what they believe in and to do something like that is truly admirable. I say good luck to him - I will take your advice and follow him on Twitter.
Good to hear from you, Chris - hope you’re doing great. And thanks for supporting this cause!
I also respect Bjorn’s desire and will power to achieve what his dreams because as you say: “You’ve got to have the guts to follow your aspirations.”
For sure, this adventure will bring other challenges, but it’s what happen with everyting that its worthy in this life.
I’m sure he will succeed and it will worth to follow him look on Twitter.
Thanks very much for sharing this inspiring story.
Regards,