Hi there!  Thanks for taking the time to visit my fund raising page.

International Childcare Trust is a London based team dedicated to relieving child poverty in Sub-Saharan Africa, India, Sri Lanka and Cambodia.  Their projects involve partnering with local NGOs in communities where child abuse, neglect and disease result in impoverished and displaced children who have no access to basic human rights, healthcare or education.

I first came into contact with ICT eight years ago and am inspired by the incredible work they perform in transforming these children's lives.  I encourage you to read more about their projects at http://www.ict-uk.org/projects_home.html. 

I am also currently sponsoring a child in Kenya through ICT.  Sponsoring a child helps particularly vunerable children get the help they need to break out of the poverty cycle.  This is another great way of supporting me on this challenge (and believe me, it's not an easy ride - this 400km uphill challenge is going to kick my butt!).  By sponsoring a child (for a mere 65 pence a day), you will be donating the equivalent of 100GBP to my fundraising target!  Please see http://www.ict-uk.org/sponsorship_home.html for more information.  If this is something you are interested in, please let me know!

A bit about the challenge - we will be cycling 400km (250m) to an altitude of 2330 metres (that's 7645 feet!).  The ride will take place near Mount Kenya (the second highest peak in Africa after Mount Kilimanjaro).  It will take five days to complete the challenge, which I don't think my brain has fully registered yet.  After one hour of training last week I was hardly able to walk (I also went out today and bought some very heavily padded cycling shorts!)

And so finally, please please please sponsor me! Since I will already be in Africa before the challenge I will be footing most of the trip's expense myself, so your money will be going directly to ICT (by the way, ICT is made up of five amazing people so costs are low and 90% of all donations go directly to supporting local projects).  I am aiming to raise a lot of money for this cause and I need your help to meet my target.  Please give generously!

I will keep this site updated with my progress, so please check back to see how I am doing.  Your help will give me even more motivation to train and complete this challenge (starting with these hills in San Francisco!). 

Thank you so much for your support! 

Note for UK taxpayers: donating through this website includes the benefit of the Gift Aid program: the government will match your donation with 28% of their own money (this money will not contribute to my fundraising target but will go directly to ICT).