I will be attempting to cycle from London to Brighton on Sunday June 16th with the aims being to both to finish and raise money for Shelterbox! As i have never riden such a long distance it'll be a huge achievement to complete the ride, especailly the dreaded ditchling beacon!!

Why Shelterbox? Shelterbox are a Cornish based but internationally needed charity that provide immediate assistance with one of their green boxes when naturnal disasters occour. The boxes contain all you may need in that situation.

Each large, green ShelterBox is tailored to a disaster but typically contains a disaster relief tent for an extended family, blankets, groundsheets, water storage and filtration equipment, cooking utensils, a basic tool kit, a children’s activity pack and other vital items.

How would you feel if your home had been destroyed by a natural disaster? 2004's Tsumani raised Shelterbox's profile- they were ready and able to provide assistance to over 2,000 families. January 2010 saw Haiti suffer one of the worst earthquakes the world had seen. Shelterbox sent over 3,000 green boxes to Haiti.

In their greatest hour of need shelterbox helped to provide shelter and hope and dignity when those in need really require it.

Lets help raise as much as possible but ideally £230 which is the cost of a tent. £590 is the cost of a new start, providing everything needed in a green box to start rebuilding their lives. While i realise this is a large amount for me to raise, if i hit the £590 target i will pass on the tracking number of the box and next time disaster hits we can follow the box. 

On a personal note i have recently returned from a trip to Burma. May 2 2008 saw Cyclone Nargis hit the Irwaddy delta and tear through Yangon, the capitol. The palm and bamboo houses I saw wouldn't have been standing for long and consequently 140,000 people died and 3 million were left needing dire help. This, in a country which had also suffered severe losses from the 2004 Tsumani. The people of Burma are amazing-without doubt the friendliest nation i have visited, all with a smile and a curiosity about tourists. Sadly in 2008 Burma was suffering from the cronic neglect of successive governments and follwing cyclone Nargis aid workers were bloked from entering, visas were refused and aid stood waiting to help those most in need. When visas were granted, Shelterbox was one of the first Aid organisations to enter.

Not sure you want to donate money to a charity that the money will be sent overseas? Shelterbox is based in Cornwall, and when natural disasters have hit the UK they have also been there. in 2012 Lostwithel, a town next to where i grew up was hit by flooding and Shelterbox were there.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nyM_sk8tjEo&feature=player_embedded

 www.shelterbox.org

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