Raised: 271%
Target: £1,000.00
Raised so far: £2,710.00
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My story

 

This is Mont Ventoux - Lance Armstrong says it is the hardest climb in France.  The English Tour de France rider Tom Simpson collapsed and died just before the summit in the 1960's (although he was full of brandy and amphetamines, which is not something I plan to replicate). 

we will have the pleasure of attempting it after cycling 150km just to get to the foot of it - it comes at the end of L'Etape, which is the penultimate stage of the 2009 Tour de France that we, along with several thousand amateurs, will be riding from start to finish a few days before the pros attempt it.  We suspect our times will not frighten them, although over the last few months Mark has lost a stone and a half in weight, and feel fitter than I have ever done in my life.

We're raising money for a charity called The Changarawe Project.  It's a small charity, but making a massive difference to a village in Tanzania in several different ways.

 - Over the last few years it has built a nursery school that takes in 100 young children, providing education and a daily meal - for some their only meal of the day.  Not only does this provide a chance to escape poverty, but it gives their family an opportunity to spend time earning money unencumbered by young children.  The AIDs epidemic has taken a significant toll on the village, and 60 of the children are orphans.

- In addition every year, the charity supports 25 children all the way up to A-Level (to date over 100 children have benefited - paying for uniforms, shoes, books, bags, mosquito nets and a mattress.  For those that don't progress to secondary school, voactional training support is also given

- Micro-financing (a concept taken from Bangladesh) where villagers are loaned money at low interest rates to help villagers start or expand a business, with over 700 people benefiting

 

I personally know the people running this charity, and have seen the passion and desire to make a real difference to the lives of one village in Africa.  Since they started up, every single penny that has been donated has gone to the programmes in Tanzania -  all UK costs (including travel) are paid out of income that has not been donated (eg find raising events, sponsorship, gift aid) so every penny you give will go directly to help the villagers of Changarawe Village.

Thanks for visiting my page, but more importantly thanks for helping make a difference to the lives of children in Africa.   

Donation by mark anderson 21/09/09  

£40.00 + £11.28 Gift Aid

We are so impressed - what a feat! Donation by Arthur and Judith Musgrove 06/08/09  

£15.00 + £4.23 Gift Aid

Congratulations - a very impressive achievement. Donation by Chris and Betty Sandars 03/08/09  

£30.00 + £8.46 Gift Aid

very well done Mark... Apparently you have a six pack now... Donation by Jo Binding 30/07/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

From Canterbury Rotary Club Donation by Tony Pomeroy 29/07/09  

£250.00 + £70.51 Gift Aid

Donation by John Sullivan 29/07/09  

£25.00 + £7.05 Gift Aid

Donation by Tony Pomeroy 29/07/09  

£25.00 + £7.05 Gift Aid

Donation by Anonymous 28/07/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Donation by alwine Walford 27/07/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Donation by Richard Saysell 27/07/09  

£25.00 + £7.05 Gift Aid

Congratulations! Peter and Imogen Sayer Donation by Peter Sayer 26/07/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

This is on behalf of Paul Collins, a regular Changarawe Project Supporter Donation by Martin Walford 25/07/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Good luck. Donation by Philip Black 24/07/09  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

A lot of respect for sticking through it - good luck. Donation by JD Rox 21/07/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Good Luck Bruv.... would be a real challenge on a Grifter!!! Donation by David Anderson 21/07/09  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

Mark enjoy the never ending hill climb..... Donation by Neil Welsh 21/07/09  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

Bravo! Donation by Ian Miller 20/07/09  

£10.00

I've got my fingers crossed for you guys today Donation by Chris Goddard 20/07/09  

£15.00 + £4.23 Gift Aid

Thank you very very much for supporting the Changarawe Project. Good Luck!! Donation by Martin Walford and 'fantastic' Aunt Caro 19/07/09  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

Good Luck ! Donation by Peter Fennessey 18/07/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Good luck Mark. May the 'kangaroo' song get you up in the mountain. Donation by Ben Schaafsma 17/07/09  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

good luck Donation by Ben Lyall 17/07/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Dig deep Mark. Walk in the park. Donation by Jonathan Moore 17/07/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Best of luck hope you have some BMI left when you get back Donation by Duncan Painter 15/07/09  

£200.00 + £56.41 Gift Aid

in the words of balboa....Go For It!! Donation by Bob Suppiah 14/07/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

- Have a good one - watch out for the Flamin Gallahs on the final ascent Donation by Jnr 14/07/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

It looks like complete madness and I can understand why you might only consider contemplating it with brandy in your system! Good luck! Donation by Kate Cook 14/07/09  

£25.00 + £7.05 Gift Aid

Good luck, and I hope you enjoy it. Donation by Alun 13/07/09  

£100.00 + £28.21 Gift Aid

Good luck, from a Changarawe supporter. The climb is indeed notorious. Donation by Luke Edwards-Stuart 13/07/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Don't get a rip in the lycra Donation by Anna Sedgley 13/07/09  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid
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* Total raised online: £2,700.00
  Offline donations: £10.00
  Gift Aid plus supplement: £679.74

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