Ok, so while sitting at my desk in-between event calls where we were battling to stop the loss of millions of litres of water from one of our burst mains, I took the opportunity to have a cup of tea and read that day's e-brief. There was message about Water Aid. The irony of the importance that we put on our first-world problem soon became clear - well at least for duration of my tea drinking. It's not that our problems aren't real, or that going without water for a few hours isn't genuinely distressing for many but it is very, very different, and quite incomprehensible when compared to the one in nine people who are still living without clean water; or the one three without a decent toilet.

Water Aid's strategy is simple; to make water, toilets and hygiene normal for everyone, everywhere. 

When these basic needs are addressed, people can then focus on health, equality and education. Then the world can change!

If you want to be a part of this change then please sponsor me to cycle across Zambia from Lusaka to Victoria Falls as part of Team Thames, which includes Matt White, Lucy Pheiffer, Jose Varela and Simon Watson. Every pound raised will go to Water Aid.

Thank you so much for your support.

Rob Hales

P.S. The prospect of me cycling my current weight (I know my first-world problem) across the 536km/6 days journey, especially in potentially plus 30˚C heat is a little disconcerting. So when you see me please ask me 'how's my training plan is going?' - and please challenge me if my answer really isn't good enough!