Hello you lovely people,

Welcome to the donation page for Matt's (my) little bike ride (version 2.0).

Last year, as some of you may know, I took on one of these little journeys to raise some money for the great people at the Australian Red Cross. It took me just shy of a month to knock out the 3600kms between Melbourne and Perth. A month of heat, straight lines, amazing tanning opportunities and wildlife.

This time it's a new challenge and a new cause - from my home town of Yackandandah to Alice Springs (via a couple of pretty special and reasonably well-known landmarks along the way), raising money for the people and areas affected by Cyclone Pam.

Tropical Cyclone Pam entered waters around Vanuatu during the evening of March the 13th, reaching Category 5 levels with winds up to 270kph. The storm was extremely destructive, and now the people of Vanuatu and indeed a lot of the local Pacific region require assistance. Funds raised for the cause will go towards emergency relief and recovery assistance to affected communities and displaced people, water, sanitation, shelter, health initiatives and longer-term disaster management. Vanuatu is one of our beautiful Pacific cousins, and it's times like these that we really need to stretch out a helping hand.

Matt's little bike ride will cover approximately 3300kms, from Victoria's Northeast, along the Murray to Mildura, northward bound to Broken Hill, into South Australia towards Port Augusta, up the Stuart Highway to the NT border, off to Uluru and Kings Canyon, and finally to the Alice.

I'll be getting the wheels rolling in the first week of April, and should be cruising into the Alice by the end of the month.

So, what can you do to help? 

Spread the word of course - follow and like my Facebook page www.facebook.com/mattslittlebikeride, share the posts, tweet, yell, sing, text, tell your famous friends and do whatever else you see fit in order to spread the word and boost awareness for the cause. 

How do you donate?

Donations are, of course, greatly appreciated and the best way to really lend a helping hand to one of our closest neighbours. Donations will be accepted the following ways;

• Via this page, or,
• Via bank deposit to the Australian Red Cross;
  Name: Cyclone Pam (Vanuatu) Appeal
  Bank: Commonwealth Bank of Australia
  Account Number: 12765814
  BSB: 063-000
  Reference number: CFR27579821

Other methods can be organised (cash, cheque, money order), so feel free to send me an email or a text if you wish to go down that path.

E: matthew.earl@hotmail.com
M: 0437 164 333
W: www.facebook.com/mattslittlebikeride

When that's all done, you can sit back, relax and watch the photos, videos, posts and inevitable complaints about the heat, wind, animals and chafing. 

Thanks again for taking the time to have a read and maybe flick a few dollars towards a great cause.

Keep updated and wish me luck!!

Matt x

Donations made through this platform are secure and will be remitted directly through to my charity of choice. And remember, donations over $2 made to the Australian Red Cross are tax deductible in Australia.