My story

Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

 

This summer I shall be attempting to cycle across Africa in 9 weeks with three friends. The aim is to ride unsupported over 2000 miles from the Atlantic to the Indian Ocean. Extreme heat, scarce food and water, dangerous animals and awful road conditions are just a few of the serious challenges facing us. We leave on the 20 June, and assuming we are not devoured by lions or adopted by bushmen, we will return at the end of August.

 

Our route will take us across the inhospitable Kalahari Desert in Namibia and Botswana, north-east through Zambia and then across Zimbabwe (as discreetly as possible), before finishing up on the white sandy beaches of Mozambique. The countries we shall be cycling through are described by the Lonely Planet guidebook as being “totally unsuitable for cycling” and for “experienced riders only.” At the time of writing, only one member of our team has cycled over 20 miles in one go (!) but training starts now.

 

You may well be thinking, like my mother, that this expedition is far too ambitious and that we will never return. However, after hours of research and planning and with help from contacts on the ground, it should be an achievable if rather challenging adventure.

 

With your help, I hope to raise a significant amount of money for Macmillan Cancer Support . I am funding the costs of the expedition myself and so every penny raised goes to the charity. Everyone is aware just how serious an issue cancer is today. By providing practical, medical, emotional and financial support Macmillan improves the lives of people affected by cancer. Statistically, one in three of us will get cancer. My father was one of them but, unlike over 150,000 each year, he is recovering.

 

 Every donation is hugely appreciated – please give what you can. Thank you.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

Michael Houston

 

 

 

My gallery 3

My Teams

My company

My charity

Macmillan Cancer Support

Macmillan Cancer Support

Charity Registration No. 261017

Macmillan Cancer Support improves the lives of people affected by cancer. We provide practical, medical, emotional and financial support and push for better cancer care. One in three of us will get cancer. Two million of us are living with it. We are all affected by cancer. We can all help. We are Macmillan.

Donations 84

Donation by Julian Barrow on 05/10/11

£50.00

+ £12.50 Gift Aid

Nice on Cuz!

Donation by William Houston on 26/09/11

Well

Donation by Matthew Mostyn on 19/09/11

Sounds like a fabulous experience, well done.

Donation by Julian Rogers-Coltman on 16/09/11

£50.00

+ £12.50 Gift Aid

Well done - wondered how you would get on after seeing the trial run up the hill in Neen. Amazing adventure. Eric and Dilys

Donation by Dilys Powell on 12/09/11

£25.00

+ £6.25 Gift Aid

Best luck Houston ^~^ x

Donation by Bin Yao on 05/09/11

£20.00

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Well done to all of you. Great effort and awesome adventure

Donation by Hamish and Jess Reid on 05/09/11

£25.00

+ £6.25 Gift Aid

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Well done, looking forward to hearing all about it one day. With love from the Mcalpines x

Donation by Fiona McAlpine on 19/08/11

£50.00

+ £12.50 Gift Aid

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Well Done Michael, what a ride, would love to hear all about it... Love from The Filmer Family xxx

Donation by antonia Filmer on 15/08/11

£30.00

+ £7.50 Gift Aid

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I AM RELIEVED THAT YOU ARE NOT GOBBLED UP BY A CROCODILE AND TOODLE BACK TO ENGLAND SAFE AND SOUND. YOU HAVE BEEN AMAZING. FROM YOUR PURPLE COUSIN ZOE

Donation by zoe KUMARAMANGALAM on 14/08/11

£50.00

+ £12.50 Gift Aid

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I am soooo impressed. Blogs are brillant. You will be so fit! Whoa. Much love from the Monkey's Mother and father of course. Well done.

Donation by Fiona Thompson on 14/08/11

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Good luck and happy cycling - love from Michael and Clare

Donation by michael thompson on 09/08/11

£25.00

+ £6.25 Gift Aid

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Darling Michael, don't let the hippos get you - we are all on tenterhooks. Good luck and lots of love from Gummy xox

Donation by Gummy on 01/08/11

£500.00

+ £125.00 Gift Aid

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I am not unimpressed. Bravo!

Donation by James Sheppe on 28/07/11

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Greatly enjoyed your blog. Wishing you all the best. Love from the Ellison

Donation by mary ellison on 27/07/11

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You are an inspiration to us all WELL DONE!!! lots of love Hugh Franny GEORGE Tom and katie

Donation by the Simpsons on 26/07/11

£20.00

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we are thrilled to hear of your progress and that you have reached the Victoria Falls, the very best for the rest of this epic journey, our love

Donation by Melissa Bonn on 24/07/11

£250.00

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That's one heck of a paper round - hope it's going well!

Donation by nigel deering on 22/07/11

£25.00

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Hope Botswana is nice!! Happy peddling....well done.Love from the Blands

Donation by Robert Bland on 08/07/11

£25.00

+ £6.25 Gift Aid

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Good luck and all the best to you all: hope the bikes hold up! from the Walkers

Donation by pippa walker on 06/07/11

£20.00

+ £5.00 Gift Aid

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Good Luck. Sorry to be slow with sponsorship. I think you might be on your way now!

Donation by Stephen Thompson on 04/07/11

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Gather you've already set off on your adventure -hope it all goes well with enough spice to make it interesting but not too much...!

Donation by Louisa & Paul Vincent on 29/06/11

£20.00

+ £5.00 Gift Aid

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Look after yourself and enjoy every minute

Donation by Wyn Jenkins on 24/06/11

£25.00

+ £6.25 Gift Aid

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Good luck! Sounds like its going to be epic!

Donation by Toby Lywood on 23/06/11

£15.00

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GOOD LUCK hope it all goes well looking forward to your stories! xx

Donation by Zoe Boult on 22/06/11

£10.00

Donation summary

  • * Online donations$7,532.83
  • Offline donations$6,750.69
  • Text donations$0.00
  • Total raised$14,283.52
  • Gift Aid$1,323.18

* Charities pay a small fee for our service. Find out how much it is and what we do for it.