On Friday last week Alan, Paul and I left Reading at 9.30am and arrived in Cambridge at 8pm that day after cycling a 110 miles. Paul loved the Chilterns and the hills, I took an instant dislike to them and was much happier when we reached the rolling landscape just outside Cambridge. Alan loved it all! We set off on Saturday morning at 9.30am and traveled an impressive 18 miles in just over hour. Fired up by a good start we 'decided' to not check the map and raced off the wrong way out of the village! Ten miles of relentlessly cycling across the Fens into a head wind later we realised we were not where we should be, as we were now above Ely and had all agreed in the morning that this was not the way. Two further hours followed of getting back on the route. A quick bite of lunch and then onto the last 30 miles into Norwich. At this point we had already done 170 miles, so pyschological I felt I had already done want I had signed up for and had a battle for the next two hours to get my legs to turn and propel myself forward. Lots of encrouagement from Alan and Paul got me through it and we rode into the centre of Norwich at 4.30pm to a Town Crier welcome. Total length 200 miles completed in 18 hours.
By giving just £5 (approx 3pence per mile) then you will be making a difference to over 100 children's futures now and in the future (less than 5pence per child). If you can give more then please do and if you have less then give what you can, because together we can create opportunities that otherwise would never exist.
In anticipation of your generosity THANK YOU.
Read on to find out who we are, what we are doing, why and what we are raising money to do.
What is Challenge 2010?
'A two day cycle from Reading to Norwich.'
Why?
'Alan lives and works in Norwich and Paul and I work in Reading, so the idea of cycling to each other felt a good thing to do.'
How far is it?
'The total distance is about 160 miles, of which we will do 100miles on the first day and then the home straight of 60 miles on day two!'
Is this something that the three of you do all the time?
'Paul is a keen cyclist and certainly Alan and I are going to be looking to him on the two days to get us to the end. Alan cycles regularly to work and is trying to up his miles and I have good intentions, but currently only get out once a week and I am on my second training plan.'
why are you raising money for EDSA?
'In truth there were many charities that we talked about, and we choose EDSA as all three of us are committed to children having the best possible opportunities in life and in particular educational chances, and the work of EDSA truly do make a difference to children's futures.'
Challenge 2010 is raising money for Net vir Pret a EDSA project:
Net vir Pret (Just for Fun) has become a very important project within the EDSA portfolio and we are very committed to its ongoing development. It is developing out of school and youth work based mainly in and around the Barrydale/Smitsville township area in the Overberg, Western Cape. It also works in isolated Farm Schools in the area.
The aim of Net vir Pret is to provide creative and stimulating after-school activities which promote creativity, self-confidence and a sense of responsibility among marginalised rural coloured or mixed race young people.
EDSA is urgently seeking further funding to develop the toy libraries and to sustain the after school and youth work as well as seeking ways of developing a one to one mentoring scheme for young people.
Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.
Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.
So please dig deep and donate now.
