Dear family and friends

If you have not heard already I am now committed to cycling over 400km in Kenya in November and to raise £4000 for ICT. To get me there I need to get significantly fitter than I am now and you need to dig deep with a donation to help me reach my target. 

Together we can make a small difference to some disadvantaged children in Kenya.

I am raising money for the International Childcare Trust. ICT is a small London based charity that helps children who have been displaced by extreme poverty, abuse, exploitation and disease - street children, child soldiers, child labourers, and AIDS orphans.

 Kenya itself has 17 million children under 18 years of age, 2.3 million of whom are orphans of which 1.1 million have HIV/AIDS. ICT works in direct partnership with local groups and takes a preventive approach offering countless children a chance where otherwise they might not have a chance at all. www.ict-uk.org

The challenge consists of cycling 420km (260m) at an altitude of up to 2330 metres (that's 7645 feet!). The ride will take place near Mount Kenya (the second highest peak in Africa after Kilimanjaro) and includes an ascent of 25km! As I cannot make it up Bison Hill in the Chilterns, which is steep, but only a 0.5km ascent and 800 feet above sea level, this will be a real challenge for me!

It will take five days to complete the cycle on some of the toughest terrain in Kenya. The scenery is supposed to be breathtaking assuming I have some breath left! And so finally, please sponsor me.

My children have generously agreed to pay for my flights and accommodation out of their savings so you can be sure that your money will be going directly to ICT. ICT consists of only five people so costs are low and 90% of all donations go directly to supporting local projects.

You can sponsor me online through this website or if you'd prefer, you can email or text me and I can send you a sponsorship form. (andrew.cole@btclick.com 07855 264943.

Please give generously. Thank you for your support.