Dear All

As some of you know I have decided to utilise my energies this year by cycling and have decided to do the London to Paris cycle ride on 30 June 2010. 322 Miles in 4 days... 80.5 miles per day......wow..... some challenge given the fact that I have only been out 3 times this year..... although 35 miles around the Chiltern Hills must give some cred in being half way there?

I only begun cycling late last year (on a mountain bike) and when 2 friends of mine flattered me this year saying that I could do such a challenge without too many problems.... flattery got them everywhere and I agreed to do the 322 mile cycle challenge to Paris  with them.

Initially I wanted to do this challenge as an incentive to get fitter and train for an event. But when I researched the website I was really moved by the work that The U Foundation do and the fact that they have changed the lives of many children and families who survive and are happy despite extreme poverty. I was convinced and now count myself lucky that I am able to undertake this challenge in the hope of raising money and possibly changing a person's situation for the better.

The U Foundation, www.theufoundation.org. is a wonderful charity helping people in Zambia to achieve self sustainability. The Foundation currently has four projects ongoing in four different towns including the provision of schools, a nursery and clinics providing basic health care free. I can try to enlighten you and convey just what the charity does, but none of my efforts tell it like their own web page. Please take 2 minutes  to visit it and see the work that the 4 inspirational people who started it, continue to do with the help of so many others. What drew me in, amongst other things was seeing the joy on the faces of the group of little boys who had been given a football to play with, which cost the equivalent of 2 weeks wages out there.... before hand they were playing football with plastic bags that had been tied together. Just think that the money you may spend on 1 mornings coffee would be enough to buy those children a football, a book, a pen, or go towards paying for a teacher's wage.

Am I doing a good job selling this to you so far... and are you digging deep?? Well if you are not convinced then please go on to the website and I am sure you will then want to make a donation. I will be covering the costs of the trip myself (£800.00... no dive trip for me this year!) as I would like to ensure that all money donated truly goes to the Charity. So, if you would be so kind as to donate to this Charity and help me achieve my target of £1500.00 rest assured that your money is being put to a very good cause. Let's remember that just £10.00 can be put to far greater use in Zambia, it can buy a lot more than in our world.

For those family and close friends who kindly buy me a Christmas and birthday present (being born on Christmas day now has it's advantages) I would be grateful if instead the money you did intend to spend on me, could be donated to The U Foundation via this page. For those of you who can go without that coffee one morning your donations would be greatly appreciated by me and the children in Zambia.

My friend Anna, also doing the cycle ride, visited a school village and met many of those working in the foundation last year when she got married in Zambia and she is so enthusiastic about the charity that she is doing the cycle ride for a second time; along with my other friend who is tasked to encourage me to get up at silly o'clock at the weekend.

So the training commences, think of me slogging up those Chiltern Hills every weekend from now on trying to get fitter and ready for four days of 80 miles a day in that skinny saddle... it will be tough.... but well worthwhile!!!

Please forward this to anyone you feel may also be interested.

Thank you for reading and donating.... Lisa 

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.