I'm what most people would call a 'keen cyclist'. I enjoy riding, building &, if you know me in person, talking about bikes. This year I figured, I may as well really challenge myself.

So, in June, I'll be undertaking a real physical & mental test - riding from Paris to Madrid. In nine days. In the heat of summer. Over the Pyrenees! There'll be no rest days, & most days I'll be riding over a hundred miles. It's going to be tough work!

So why am I fundraising? Last year, Perform Group raised enough money for Plan International to make a real difference to the lives of disadvantaged people. This year, any donations will be going to Plan's projects in Brazil to promote gender equality & children's rights. 

Brazil is a country marked by deep social, economic and political inequalities, all of which are accentuated by gender inequality. For instance, 1 in 5 girls drop out of school because they become pregnant and women occupy only 10% of seats in the Chamber of Deputies and 16% in the Federal Senate.

Plan helps create communities that are free from violence where girls and boys have equal opportunities & supporting girls to get an education where they have equal opportunities. Focusing their work on ensuring girls are able to lead, decide and thrive:

• Lead - girls have a strong voice and act as agents of change in the promotion of their rights.
• Decide - girls have control over their lives and bodies, taking informed decisions about their identities, relationships and when to have children.
• Thrive - children and their communities prevent violence against girls so they are able to follow their ambitions.

I'm committing myself to this challenge, which I know will be very tough, but nowhere near the challenge these disadvantaged people face every day of their lives. Any donation will make a difference!

Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page. Wish me luck!