On Friday 6th July, I'll be setting off with 20 team members and supporters for the second MapAction cycle ride. Last year it was the solstice connection of the Paris and London meridians. This year, for our 10th anniversary, we have a 170 mile route through the Chilterns, threading together 10 towns whose initials spell out "MAPACTIONS" (the "S" being necessary to make 10....). Read all about it here - http://www.mapaction.org/bike

I feel a titchy bit hesitant asking for sponsorship for a ride through "an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, complete with stunning scenery, historic villages and pretty market towns." But if you would like to make a small donation to the charity, it will be hugely appreciated and beneficial. Our team is bigger than ever, and busier than ever, with both emergency response work and more training and capacity building projects. Just now, for example, a team has recently returned from eastern Congo (DRC), helping to map "early warning" signs of conflict; and another team leaves today for Paraguay where the government has requested UN help after several weeks of increasing flood damage.

Thank you very much / asanteni sana!

Nick.