Dave and Stuart presenting cheque to Bjorn at JKs, Coin, Malaga.

Dave and Stuart presenting cheque to Bjorn at JKs, Coin, Malaga.

It was a huge pleasure and a humbling experience to meet Bjorn Heidenstrom, former Norwegian International and first division football player who is cycling from Norway to South Africa collecting signed football shirts, and raising awareness for the world’s 45 million refugees.

We crossed paths at JKs in Coín last Saturday night when we were both hypnotised by the fabulous Stuart Ashing and took part in a charity night to raise awareness for the cause, hosted by the guys from Ace FM radio.

Bjorn has been cycling for six months already, and certainly lives up the nickname “Crazy Norwegian”. A big man in all respects: stature, personality and in heart he is currently planning his route to Egypt before cycling to Cape Town via Sudan, Kenya, Tanzania, and the Southern African countries. Bjorn is hoping to be in Johannesburg in May. Then he and some volunteers will stitch all of the shirts collected together into a single large flag that FIFA and the South African Football Association have agreed will be flown at the opening game of the Soccer World Cup in June 2010.