Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

In February 2016, myself and approximately 300 others will start the Tour Aotearoa, a 3000km cycle brevet riding the length of New Zealand, from Cape Reinga at the top of the North Island, to Bluff which is the most southerly point on the South Island. The prescribed route features a variety of surfaces and terrains including on road/ beach/ 4 wheel drive tracks, through forests and rivers, over mountain ranges and hopefully the odd pub or two. There are also five ferry crossings along the route. Each entrant rides the route fully self supported. This means accommodation options will mostly be outdoors although I'm hoping for the odd hotel/ motel/ b & b/ backpackers stay as well!

I plan to cycle about 12 (+!) hours each day, hopefully covering at least 150km per day. My target is to complete the event in 18-21 days. Although this event takes place during the kiwi summer, I'm expecting a variety of weather, temperatures and humidity. So anything goes!

Amnesty International has been my primary charity for many years. My late Mother was a volunteer for Amnesty and spent many hours writing letters to governments around the world pleading clemency for prisoners of conscience.  As well as campaigning for the release of prisoners of conscience, Amnesty works to campaign against death sentences and place pressure on governments regarding human rights abuses.

Anybody with any sense of conscience wont fail to have been appalled by the recent chaotic scenes of Syrians and people from other ethnic origin being displaced from their homelands both due to civil war and infiltration by islamic militant groups. When I was in my homeland recently the media spotlight was focused on such 'migrants' wishing to make another perilous journey, this time across the English Channel from France. 

The world finds itself in the midst of a refugee crisis. Over a million refugees have entered Europe mostly via the Mediterranean. During 2015 alone some 3,770 people lost their lives when all they were seeking was a better life. Criminal gangs charge phenomenal amounts to refugees for supposed safe passage to the shores of southern Europe usually in completely inadequate and overfilled dinghies. If anyone dare complain they are met with the barrel of a gun. Most of these refugees have already endured the human cost of war, persecution and human rights abuses that force people to abandon their homes and often elderly and sick members of their families, in search of refuge.  Amnesty International and other charitable organisations are lobbying governments demanding that refugees are provided with safe passage and fair procedures to determine eligibility. 

My just giving fundraising page is dedicated to highlighting the basic rights of my fellow human beings. And to my late Mother who worked so hard to highlight the cases of those whose human rights have been denied.

It would be fantastic to achieve my target of £500. I hope you share my beliefs and feel strongly enough to make a donation. Save the human.

Anne Yvonne Smith 1943-1994 RIP.

https://www.amnesty.org/en/

http://www.touraotearoa.nz

Twitter @breslinsmith