PLEASE TICK THE GIFT-AID BOX WHEN DONATING - EXPLAINED BELOW!!!!

As some of you may know I've been in Australia for just under a year and my visa is running out soon. This means I will need to return to England. So I'm doing what any sane 21 year old would do...making my way home using the good old fashioned bicycle!

Now I know what some of your initial reactions may be:
"Isn't there water in between Australia and England?",
"Why not fly you crazy nutter!" and
"George you're too good looking to cycle all that way, your beautiful blonde locks won't make it"

But I thought, this is going to be a trip of a lifetime and I am going to experience countries in a way that you just can't do by public transport.

I have no finalised route but at the moment I'm planing on flying to Auckland, New Zealand to cycle to the bottom of the South Island . I will then fly to Hong Kong cycling through China, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Myanmar, India then fly to Turkey and cycle through Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Germany, Belgium, France and end my trip in the UK.
Check out this map to see my original route http://www.scribblemaps.com/maps/view/Georges_Big_Cycle/waJKcjdN9a

The first leg of the cycle, Lewis Bourke and Charlie Franklin are cycling the length of New Zealand with me. These guests will be a vital source of motivation on my tour and they'll also be helping raise money for a great cause #ladz. 

I will be cycling across the world raising money for a charity which has helped one of my best friends Matthew Johnston who was diagnosed with meningitis in November 2010. After being in a coma in intensive care for 5 days and showing symptoms of Meningitis 7 days prior to this, he tested positive for Meningitis. After almost dying in ICU he started stabilising in hospital but was told he was paralysed from the waist down and that he may never walk again. Through years of intensive therapy he is now able to lead a normal life, walk and play sports again.

I'm choosing to raise money for the MeningitisNow charity as Mat's illness could have been spotted much earlier with raised awareness amongst the public and health care professionals.

Please read Mat's story to get a full extent to what he has been through https://www.meningitisnow.org/support-us/news-centre/meningitis-stories/mathews-story/

My route will take me across mountain ranges and deserts, pedalling through some of the harshest terrains known to man.
This is why I need your help to dig deep and donate as much as you can!

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE REMEMBER TO TICK THE GIFT AID BOX. It doesn't cost you anything else but is a scheme enabling registered charities to reclaim tax on a donation made by a UK taxpayer, effectively increasing the amount of the donation.

Please note all money donated on this page goes directly to MeningitisNow Charity. I'm also trying to raise a bit of cash for my equipment, flights and visas on my GoFundMe page. Have a look here for more information

http://www.gofundme.com/GeorgePlacidi