Dear Friends,

Thank you for taking the time to learn about one of the most challenging journeys in my life, so far. This November, I will attempt to bike across Ethiopia's Danakil Depression with a incredible group of women from Women on a Mission (WOAM) to raise money to help women survivors of war. 

Where and what the heck am I doing?

Truth be told, I question my sanity sometimes. Considering that I bought my first bike (a pink and kid sized one, no less) and the training wheels only came off 2 years ago, I'm throwing myself into the deep, and very sharp end, very literally. 

The Danakil Depression is considered to have the hottest average year round temperature on Earth . The terrain is littered with geysers, volcanos and possibly many many sharp stones (which I'm trying not to think about). The conditions can be best described as "cruel". 

I am petrified because not only can I not cycle well, I know nothing about bike repairs, saddles, etc etc etc but that will not be stopping me. 

What I am about to go through is nothing compared to the struggles that hundred of thousands of women in war-torn areas go through, daily. These women remind us of their strength and determination to overcome the most daunting challenges.

I am proud to be raising funds for Women for Women International, an organisation supporting women survivors of war to rebuild their lives.

Since 1993, Women for Women International have helped more than 462,000 marginalised women to overcome the horrors of war and work towards a better life for themselves and their families.

Women for Women International reaches out to the women who are often left behind – those who struggle with poverty and violence, who are denied basic education and health care, and whose lives have been devastated by conflict. The women they serve have, quite literally, lost everything.

Their year-long holistic training programme equips women to earn money, regain their confidence and actively participate in their communities. When a woman joins the programme, she comes together with 24 other women, forming a tight support group that helps to break the isolation caused by war and insecurity. The result: stronger women, stronger families and stronger communities.

With over twenty brutal armed conflicts across the globe and unprecedented levels of violence against women, there has never been a greater need to support Women for Women International in their mission to change the world, one woman at a time

Your gift could transform a woman’s life, and have a huge impact on her family and community.

www.womenforwomen.org.uk