Colin Riordan is fundraising for Council for Assisting Refugee Academics

Colin Riordan's Fundraising Page

The Council for Assisting Refugee Academics - CARA Cycle Challenge 2009

on 31/05/2009

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Raising money for

Council for Assisting Refugee Academics

Charity Registration No. 207471

CARA assists university lecturers and researchers who are forced to become refugees in the UK. CARA helps them to re establish their lives and careers so that their specialist knowledge and abilities may continue to benefit humankind. In this, its 75th anniversary year CARA is assisting over 140 refugees through subsistance grants and practical support.

Page owner

Colin Riordan

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Raised: 117%

Target: £1,500.00
Raised so far: £1,760.00

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My story

On Sunday 31 May I took part in a cycle ride from Cambridge (where CARA was founded) to SOAS in central London. It was a hot day with about 70-80 cyclists taking part. I ended up doing around 67 miles in just over 5 hours by the time I reached SOAS, but I don't doubt distances will vary because navigation was the main challenge. I managed to put in an unscheduled detour not far outside Cambridge, but rejoined the route without too much trouble. I decided to regard the long extra climb the detour involved as a useful training bonus and suppressed any temptation to swear. Believe it or not I am capable of seeing a ride like that as good fun and this one certainly was, especially in the beautiful weather. I'm very pleased to have had the chance to support CARA and extremely grateful to everybody who has made a donation.

CARA was founded as The Academic Assistance Council (AAC) in March 1933 by William Beveridge, then Director of the London School of Economics, in response to an article in a Viennese newspaper announcing "that a dozen leading professors were being dismissed from posts in German Universities by the newly established Nazi regime, either on racial or on political grounds."

Renamed the Council for Assisting Refugee Academics in 1998, it aims to help university teachers and investigators of whatever country who, on grounds of religion, political opinion, or race are unable to carry out their work in their own country. Through its core Grant & Advice Programme, this charitable organisation has in the past 75 years provided practical support to over 9,000 displaced academics and their dependents, helping to rebuild shattered lives and ensure that their "special knowledge and abilities may continue to be used for the benefit of mankind".

Donating through Justgiving is quick, easy and totally secure. It’s also the most efficient way to sponsor me: the Council for Assisting Refugee Academics gets your money faster and, if you’re a UK taxpayer, Justgiving makes sure 25% in Gift Aid, plus a 3% supplement, are added to your donation.

Thanks for visiting my fundraising page and supporting CARA in its programme of assistance for persecuted academics from all corners of the world.

	Well done ! Donation by Philip Tolhurst 20/06/09
	Great Stuff Donation by Dominic Kavakeb 13/06/09	£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid
	Well done - all in a good cause Donation by Celia Edey 13/06/09	£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid
	The extra tenner for being sooo good! Donation by Marianne Provan 12/06/09	£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid
	Excellent! Donation by Rob Massara 03/06/09	£30.00 + £8.46 Gift Aid
	Trust there is still time to contribute. Splendid cause and well done. Recommend BikeNav nxt time. Donation by Frank/ Sally 02/06/09	£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid
	Donation by Ruth Graham 02/06/09	£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid
	well done Donation by David Boyle 02/06/09	£25.00 + £7.05 Gift Aid
	A great effort for a great cause Donation by Deian Hopkin 01/06/09	£100.00 + £28.21 Gift Aid
	Hope the ride went well. Donation by Christine Temple 31/05/09	£25.00 + £7.05 Gift Aid
	Good luck! don't get saddle sore Donation by Paul Webley 31/05/09	£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid
	Bravo! We should try for a platoon next year! Donation by John Packer 31/05/09	£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid
	Enjoy the ride! Donation by Clara Sandoval 30/05/09	£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid
	Good luck! Donation by Pik Liew 30/05/09	£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid
	Thanks and have a great day! Donation by David Phipps 29/05/09	£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid
	Bon voyage! Donation by Maggie Iversen 29/05/09	£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid
	Best of luck! Donation by Margherita Sprio 29/05/09	£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid
	I didn't know about this charity - think it's excellent! Donation by Liz Andersen 29/05/09	£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid
	A good cause, thanks for getting us involved Donation by Susan Rhodes 29/05/09	£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid
	Well done! I hope the bike ride goes well. A very worthy cause. Donation by Joan Davies 28/05/09	£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid
	You look a bit serious, £30 extra if you do it wearing a Tu-Tu! Donation by Neil Barnard 28/05/09	£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid
	Best wishes Donation by Syd Kent 28/05/09	£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid
	Donation by Beatrice Han-Pile 28/05/09	£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid
	Good luck Donation by Ellen Sample 28/05/09	£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid
	Next year, you can train USG for the team event! Donation by Andy Downton 28/05/09	£25.00 + £7.05 Gift Aid
	A very worthwhile cause. Donation by Annie 28/05/09	£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid
	Good Luck!! Donation by Jeannette Chin 28/05/09	£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid
	From one fundraiser to another, good luck! Donation by Jo Rogers 28/05/09	£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid
	Should take about 1hr 55 Donation by Steve 28/05/09	£15.00 + £4.23 Gift Aid
	Important cause. Hope we can be more involved institutionally Donation by Nigel Rodley 28/05/09	£25.00 + £7.05 Gift Aid

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* Total raised online:	£1,545.00
Offline donations:	£215.00
Gift Aid plus supplement:	£435.77

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Find out how much it is and what we do for it.