Story
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<p>UPDATE: </p>
<p>I arrived home on 29 August having successfully completed the gruelling ride and climbed the world's 2 highest roads: Tanglanla at 17,582' and Khadung La at 18,380'. I reckon that would almost certainly make me the highest cyclist in the world for a short period of time! The ride may now be completed, but the fundraising continues, as the disabled children still need our help to transform their lives.</p>
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<p>The following information was written before I set off on the ride:</p>
<p>Another bike ride.....another mountain range to cross......, and all to assist the life changing work of Neema Crafts!</p>
<p>In August I will be cycling across the Himalayas, with a group from the UK. The ride will start in Manali and finish at Leh in Ladakh. In 11 days we will cycle 400 miles reaching the summit of Khadung La, the highest motorable road in the world - albeit unmetalled in parts - at 18,380 feet above sea level. To me the most frightening statistic is that the total ascent will be 37,000', so it will be the equivalent of cycling from London to Edinburgh, with a rendezvous with a jumbo jet somewhere over Berwick on Tweed! </p>
<p>So why am I doing it - apart from the obvious answer of "because its there"?</p>
<p>I am so lucky at the age of 61 to be blessed with good health and fitness, things we take so easily for granted. Twice I have worked at the Neema Crafts workshop for disabled people in Iringa, Tanzania, and seen the hardships faced by disabled people in other parts of the world, where there is no welfare state, no free health service, no benefits to financially assist people, and where families and society often reject those with disabilities. It is therefore particularly appropriate that I can use my good health and fitness to undertake this ride to raise money to fund the free physiotherapy programme recently started at Neema Crafts for disabled children, who do not have the health and blessings we can take for granted, and who cannot walk properly, or cycle. With physiotherapy and various aids they can be helped to make significant improvements. Raising £2,000 will pay the salary of the physiotherapist for 12 months. More money will help to provide the aids the children also require, and food supplements for the malnourished children who are so weak they can't do their physiotherapy exercises.</p>
<p>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, your money is sent directly to Neema Crafts and Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - we raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for Neema Crafts. So please dig deep and donate now.</p>
<p>The photos show some of my previous fund-raising activities for Neema Crafts, plus photos of 3 young patients currently being treated at the Neema Crafts Physiotherapy Unit.</p>
<p>Eric Waters</p>