Along with my crew-mates Lucy Pheiffer, Simon Watson and Rob Hales, Team Thames will be cycling our way 536 kilometers across Zambia in 6 days to raise funds for WaterAid..

The challenge will take our team via mountain bikes on and off road through the friendly towns and villages of rural southern Zambia, passing farmland and sugar cane plantations, encountering all sorts of wildlife along the way before ending up at the famous Victoria  Falls. Importantly, we’ll be visiting WaterAid projects en route and have a target of raising £4,400 in sponsorship each for the good cause.

There's a very long distance to travel, both in kilometers and in sponsorship - every single penny you donate will bring us closer to our destination, and will help to bring new life to some of the poorest areas of Africa though a supply of clean water. This will be an almighty challenge for all of us within the team, with long days in the saddle riding on dirt and sand tracks and intense heat of up to 29 degrees for 6 days back to back. 

I have lots of training and fundraising to do, and will be documenting milestones on the run up to the event on Instagram, along with coverage of the trip itself. If you would like to be kept updated on events as they unfold then please follow me on Instagram at mattinzambia.

We honestly couldn't do it without you - your support will keep us going through those tougher "character building" moments which will inevitably arise! That said, I am so privileged to be able to contribute this epic adventure with my teammates. 

Clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene should be a normal part of everyone’s daily life. Without all three, people can’t live dignified, healthy lives. With all three, they can unlock their potential, break free from poverty and change their lives for good.With clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene, children are born healthier. They get the chance to go to school and grow up to become adults. Women and men get to earn a living. Whole communities start to thrive. It sounds normal and it should be.