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James' tweets: http://practicalaction.org/schumacher-centenary-cycle-ride
James' latest blogs: http://practicalaction.org/blog/author/jamesschumacher/
Nicola's blogs: http://practicalaction.org/blog/author/nicolaschumacher/
In August I will be setting off on a special 24 day, 1,200 mile cycling challenge from Bremen through Germany, Switzerland and France to celebrate the centenary of my late father, E.F. Schumacher's birth. My sister, Nicola will be joining me for the first week and cycle over 330 miles as far as Mainz.
The idea is to raise as much money and awareness as possible for Practical Action, the innovative international development charity he founded back in 1966 (then known as Intermediate Technology Development Group). They work alongside some of the world's poorest communities to find practical solutions to the poverty they face. They see technology as a vital contributor to people's livelihoods and their definition includes physical infrastructure, machinery and equipment, knowledge and skills and the capacity to organise and use all of these. Please watch the video link to get an insight into the kind of the life-changing work they get involved in.
What about the ride iteslf? We will be starting the ride in Bremen, northern Germany before heading west to Duisburg and the Rhine which we will be following south through Bonn, Koblenz and Mainz. I'll then cycle on to Switzerland before taking on the most challenging part of the ride, the 440 mile stretch from Geneva over the French Alps to Nice. On the itinerary are two classic Alpine climbs which featured on the route of this year's Tour de France: the Col du Telegraphe (1,566m) and the Col du Galibier (2,645m). The latter marked the Tours highest point and was climbed twice this year.
All money raised will go directly to Practical Action and I will happily send anyone generous enough to sponsor me £25 or more a free copy of either of my father's books "Small is Beautiful - A Study of Economics as if People Mattered" or "A Guide for the Perplexed" should they want one, courtesy of Vintage. Just email me at jameswabbi@aol.com with your details and I'll arrange for a copy to be sent out to you.
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