Thank you for visiting my fundraising page. Please dig deep and sponsor me online. Your sponsorship will improve the lives and prospects of many people.

From 4-16 November 2008, I will be undertaking the biggest challenge of my life. I plan on cycling 700km through North West Vietnam to raise money for Rethink.

Here's why I'm doing it.........

I am raising the money for a centre in Portsmouth which serves a fantastic function for the homeless in Portsmouth. CENTRAL POINT is part of Rethink.

They provide a number of really important services such as provision of hot meals, shower and laundry facilities, access to a GP, lots of support and advice on key issues such as drug and alcohol abuse, housing etc. They even provide a rent deposit scheme to help people back into accomodation. They are also the local distributor for the Big Issue.

While out on a soup run on the Sunday night of this winters big storms that were rolling across the south coast, I met Billy who let me into a little of his story. Just 3 months previously he had a job, flat, girlfriend and car, and now he had nothing. I don't know what caused the downturn, however, he did not seem like a quitter. He was very grateful for the tea and sandwiches and clean clothes that we gave him, and was keen to let us know where all the other guys were that night so that we could find them too. Each person that we came across told us where to find the next one.

Billy was lucky on such a terrible night to have someones sofa to sleep on, not all the people we came across were so lucky, we were told by one that a group of them were going to make themselves cosy and out of the wind and rain in a local multistory car park.

I became aware that I had already met Billy before selling the Big Issue locally - and I sensed that it would not be too long before he was heading back on his feet. Centres like CENTRAL POINT, help people like Billy get their lives back.

I am aiming to raise at least £3000 for them, and ask anyone who is grateful that they have a home to sleep in & food to eat to give a little to this great cause that is very close to my home.

Although I am a keen cyclist and can cover a good number of miles in a day, I have never cycled any distance for multiple days. This is pretty major for me. You can follow my training and exploits on my Facebook group or if you're not on Facebook I have now set up a blog

Vietnam Cycle 2008 - Central Point http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=8502910731&ref=mf

http://marciascycle.blogspot.com

Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Rethink will receive your money faster and, if you are a UK taxpayer, an extra 28% in tax will be added to your gift at no cost to you.

So please sponsor me now!

Many thanks for your support.