Q What challenge you may ask?
A To ride a mountain bike in Kenya from the foothills of Kilimanjaro to Mombasa for six straight days (having not ridden a bike before 2010)
Q Why you may ask?
A To raise money for an amazing charity called Norwood who have been in existence for many years and focus on the needs of children and families as well as people with learning disabilities.
A To also carry out a promise to myself since my heart attack and get healthier.
It is only sometimes when you experience what I have experienced, do you realise how lucky we all are and how fragile life is. So when I was asked to support this charity, we at Halcyon Gallery offered our support financially, and also by becoming patrons of the charity and holding a yearly event in our gallery. This relationship has grown, and when a very close friend of mine suggested I join him on a bike ride I thought, why not, a few miles on a bike would be fun! I was to find out I had let myself in for something a little longer, hotter and further away i.e.
Six days!!!! 35 degrees!!!!! Kenya!!!
But now I have committed myself I am determined to complete this challenge.
SO…
I am not asking for companions on the ride but I am asking (if you are so able to do so) for your financial support. Either individually or in a group. Please see below what the money will actually be used for…
£20 will pay for half an hour of therapy for a child with learning disabilities.
£50 will pay for an hour of speech therapy for a child with learning disabilities.
£100 will pay for a counselling session for family experiencing problems.
£200 Will buy specialist sensory equipment for children with autism.
£500 will allow eight adults with learning disabilities to attend a course to help develop their skills for the work place.
£750 will provide a residential activity weekend for a child with profound disabilities.
£1500 will provide therapeutic equipment to help distressed children through emotional difficulties.
£2750 will provide a year’s transport for a wheelchair user.
I can promise you a number of things in return for your generosity…
· The money will go to an amazing charity.
· Photos of me in Lycra (or maybe no photos of me in Lycra)…
· A photo of me crossing the finishing line!
· A full update of how your money was actually used.
Let me thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to read my request and also if you have been able to support me, thank you so much for your help.
Best,
Russell
