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Target: £1,500.00
Raised so far: £1,500.00
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My story

 

This autumn I'm going to be riding my bike from the UK to the Pyramids. This, as some of you may know, is a trip i've been planning for some time. It originally looked like I would be riding by myself but after some frantic searching, and much to my safety conscious mother's delight, it looks like i've found the perfect travel companion in my oldest friend Ollie Parsons. He is as strong as an ox which i'm sure will be helpful in fighting off bandits and wolves but more usefully he is patient enough to put up with me.
 
Hopefully we'll be setting off this week, we're just waiting for Ollie's Syrian visa to arrive. This should leave us around 100 days to pedal the 4000-4500 miles to Egypt.
 
The journey will take us through Northern France to Basel in Switzerland. From there we'll follow the Rhine on route to Austria where we'll travel up and over the alps (as simple as that) into Slovenia, and then down through to Croatia and along the Dalmatian coast to Montenegro. From there we'll head east to Bulgaria passing through Serbia and possibly Albania. Once across Bulgaria we'll be in Turkey. From Istanbul we'll be heading via Syria and Lebanon to the Gulf of Aqaba in southern Jordan, from where we'll sail to the Egyptian port of Nuweiba. Our final leg will take us across the Sinai peninsula, through Cairo and on to the Pyramids of Giza!

Coaching for Hope (Football coaching and health education in Africa)
 
It has long been my intention to raise money for a charity that deals with health education through football coaching in Africa. I think about the reverence I had for my football coaches when I was young and recognise that such individuals are in a powerful position to positively influence those around them. As such I hope that those of you who can afford to will sponsor my ride to Africa by donating money to Coaching for Hope.
Here's some of the information from their website...
 
     Coaching for Hope is an innovative programme which uses football to create better futures for young people in West and Southern Africa. We’re part of the international volunteering and development charity, Skillshare International.

     We tap into the universal passion for football and organise coaching courses where professional coaches from the UK train local youth workers to recognised FA standards. At the same time, the local coaches learn how to deliver HIV awareness sessions to young people in their communities.  Once the UK coaches leave, our programme staff provide ongoing support to the graduates.  This means they can deliver Coaching for Hope sessions and develop training initiatives of their own.

     So far, about 30,000 children have benefited from football and HIV awareness sessions and 700 coaches have been through our courses.

     The kids who benefit are vulnerable - often orphans or with disabilities. They have little access to sport and health education. The chance to play football in proper kit and take part in a tournament can be a life-changing experience which raises their confidence and self-esteem and builds valuable life skills. 

 

They're a hard working charity making a real impact and I think their message is particularly salient given that Africa will host its first ever Football World Cup next year! Coaching for Hope is run by Skillshare International and although (confusingly) the Just Giving link is for Skillshare, 100% of the money you donate will be used for the Coaching for Hope Programme.

 

Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

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.

Well done Ricky - we are all looking forward to hearing about your travels. Nick, Sarah, Margaret, Toby and Alison. Donation by Nicholas Freeman 26/12/09  

£33.50 + £9.45 Gift Aid

Your dad has been keeping me up to date with your journey. It's quite an achievement. Donation by Bryn Thomas 22/12/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Well done Ricky, what an adventure, enjoy...... Donation by Anne Sercombe 22/12/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

I continue to be amazed by your stories... Happy Christmas and looking forward to colleagueness very sooon!xxx Donation by Pippa Knott 20/12/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Hey Ricky, I'd give you more if I wasn't a stupidly skint student.... Hope this helps you on your way though x Donation by Clare Lancaster 18/12/09  

£5.00

You. Are. Blowing. My. Mind. Good Luck/Keep Going/Congratulations xx Donation by Polly Bennett 18/12/09  

£10.00

Donation by Jenny Morgan 17/12/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Donation by tom powell 17/12/09  

hopefully this will spur you on for the last few days! x Donation by Anneliese 17/12/09  

£10.00

Ricky, I wish you a wonderful trip and all the best for the kids. see you soon X Donation by Silvia Rusu-Tibreanu 17/12/09  

£20.00

Enjoy your well earned KFC whilst you look out at the sphinx and think of Tim held hostage on a camel being marched off into the sunset! Donation by Mary Engleheart 17/12/09  

£25.00 + £7.05 Gift Aid

Well done Ricky and Ollie,great news. Donation by alex Hudson 16/12/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Well done from Devon Rich! What an achievement - an aspirational trip. Rose and James x Donation by Rose FM 16/12/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Donation by Rebekah Fernandez 16/12/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

lots of love ricky and all at mountview admire you loads. Happy Xmas-we will miss you, see you soon Donation by katy 16/12/09  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

I think u are both amazing. Have been following your blog. Enjoy the pyramids. Keep safe. Looking forward to a detailed(!) account when u home Donation by Belinda 14/12/09  

£25.00 + £7.05 Gift Aid

good luck bro and hope you have a good time love edie xox Donation by Edie Rowlands 13/12/09  

£10.00

Hi Ricky! Mike B sends his regards and wishes you best of luck with the trip. Donation by Rob Dixon 08/12/09  

£5.00 + £1.41 Gift Aid

Hey! Hope all is well on the tougher leg of your journey. 2 months cycling wasnt long enough. Best of luck for the rest of the trip! Donation by Gav 06/12/09  

£10.00

don't read this; keep pedalling! Donation by Johnno 01/12/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Hi Ricky, We're all so proud of you - what a trip. See you soon. Take care. Lots of love, Liz, Phil, Jake and Rowan Donation by Liz Dixon 01/12/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Well Done Ricky... You're Dad is very proud of what you are doing!! Donation by Dave Oxenham 01/12/09  

£5.00 + £1.41 Gift Aid

Donation by Richard Bird 29/11/09  

£15.00 + £4.23 Gift Aid

Hope you're havin fun Rixon. Syria can be a tricky place. Donation by James Kennedy 28/11/09  

£20.00

Good job Ricky =) Hope you're having buckets of fun! Donation by Anjela Datta 28/11/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Mate hope your having an amazing time out there so jealous. Great cause hope you hit the target Donation by Nick Crosthwaite 25/11/09  

£15.00 + £4.23 Gift Aid

£10 of this was from one of my agreement holders, Michael Stanbury, £1 from colleague Yvonne Salmon (NE). Many thanks both. Donation by Rob Dixon 25/11/09  

£11.00

Ricky - this is from colleague Marian Ault at NE - thanks Marian! Donation by Rob Dixon 25/11/09  

£10.00

Hi Ricky. I'm really proud of what you're doing, and so very glad to have ridden with you and Ollie through the Balkans. Good luck with the trip! Donation by Rob Dixon 25/11/09  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

Hi Ricky, Good Luck on your travels! x Donation by Amy White 23/11/09  

£10.00
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* Total raised online: £1,500.00
  Offline donations: £0.00
  Gift Aid plus supplement: £249.33

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