My story

What am I raising funds for?

My efforts are in aid of SOS Childrens Villages and specifically the new village which is to be built in Chipata, Zambia.

How am I fundraising?

In April 2008 I left my home in England to cycle round the world. The ride takes me through 5 continents and is expected to finish in 2010/11

Fast Facts About Zambia

- Located in south-central Africa, Zambia is one of the worlds poorest countries with the average daily income at 60p per day.

- 10% of the children in Zambia are orphans

- 88% of these children have lost their parents to aids

- Life expectancy is 38 years

- 70% of houses in Zambia are caring for orphans

What will my money go towards?

SOS Childrens Villages are building a new childrens village, nursery school, primary school and family strengthening programme  in Chipata, located in Zambias Eastern Province. With your help construction will start in 2009 and be completed by June 2010.

The primary school will offer basic education to children from the village and orphans from vulnerable households. A few places are also available to fee paying students to enhance sustainability and create a community environment for all children.

SOS Childrens Villages in Zambia

SOS began work in Zambia in 1999 with the opening of a village in the capital city Lusaka, about 4 km from the centre and in a densely populated and very poor area.

In 2004 a second village was opened in Kitwe, the capital of the Copperbelt region in Northern Zambia, an area home to large migrant populations. Both villages have kindegartens, primary schools and are home to Family Strengthening Programmes (FSP's). These FSP's give practical help and counselling to 1,500 children and their families in the local community who are affected by HIV/AIDS. The SOS Medical Centre also treats patients from 18,000 local families.

A third SOS Childrens Village opened in Livingston in Summer 2008 near the world famous Victoria Falls. It has 15 family homes for 150 orphaned and abandoned children. An FSP was set up earlier in 2006 and is already supporting over 300 children and 150 caregivers in the Livingstone area.

How can I help?

Do you have an event coming up? Do you know people who would be interested in helping? Are you a business looking to make a donation? Then please don't hesitate to contact either me or SOS Childrens Villages - each donation does make a difference.

Alternatively, if anyone reading this fancies a life changing experience then why not come and cycle with me for a few weeks? Anyone is welcome, you don't need to be a cycling expert and I can guarantee it will change the way you see the world, so why not do something amazing today?

Thank you for reading: please sponsor me and spread the word!

Matt

www.worldwidebikeride.com

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My Teams

My company

My charity

SOS Children's Villages UK

SOS Children's Villages UK

Charity Registration No. 1069204

SOS Children is a global authority on nurturing and supporting families. We provide direct care for orphaned and abandoned children, and we work with local communities to keep fragmenting families together. For more information about our work around the world please visit www.soschildren.org.

Donations 418

Finally got round to this. All the best for the ME/Europe stretch :)

Donation by Stuart Nattrass on 09/11/11

£20.00

+ £5.00 Gift Aid

:toppa:

Donation by Jay Quitler on 08/11/11

£20.00

hey mate, hope its going well, u must have saddle arse by now?x

Donation by Tom Doran on 05/10/11

I'm just sorry it's taken me so long to do this : )

Donation by Emma Wingate on 26/09/11

£20.00

+ £5.00 Gift Aid

THANK YOU! (see you in spring! - ride safe! :) )

Donation by Sarah Konopelska on 23/09/11

£25.00

Thanks to the teachers of the International School of Uganda

Donation by Carol Blake on 21/09/11

£64.00

Courtesy of Mrs Rachel Rice and the Ambrosli International School in Uganda

Donation by Carol Blake on 21/09/11

£120.00

Donation by Kevin Boyack on 19/09/11

£10.00

+ £2.50 Gift Aid

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Matthew, I've been following your progress on your blog and the Football365 forum. Good luck on the rest of your journey.

Donation by Robert Mitchell on 03/09/11

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Followed you through Rhiney, thought id take it past £7,000. Keep it up!

Donation by Jack O'Keefe on 31/08/11

£62.15

+ £15.54 Gift Aid

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At long last, here you go Rhinestone, keep up the good work!

Donation by Timmy 365 on 31/08/11

£100.00

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Money well spent. Good effort, Rhinestone.

Donation by G S on 26/08/11

£20.00

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You're an absolute inspiration, Rhinestone. Sorry it's not much but every little helps. Best of luck with reaching your target. Great cause.

Donation by David Beckham's Beard F365 on 25/08/11

£10.00

+ £2.50 Gift Aid

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Truly inspiring. Lets get closer to the total, Matthew's sore bike seat derrière needs you :toppa:

Donation by Q..MD on 25/08/11

£100.00

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Congrats on 40,000miles journey! Your trip continues to inspire me, and I am so glad I got to join you for a small part of the adventure in SA!!

Donation by Lisa Huang on 25/08/11

£10.00

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It's not much but I'm poor. All the Best :toppa:

Donation by Uncle Pigg F365 on 25/08/11

£5.00

+ £1.25 Gift Aid

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Fantastic acheievement! Good luck with the rest of the trip

Donation by Matt Norman on 25/08/11

£10.00

+ £2.50 Gift Aid

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Keep going mate, on the home stretch now.

Donation by sir loin 365 on 21/08/11

£20.00

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Good luck fella, you're doing incredibly. I'll buy you a beer at Loftus Road when you get back.

Donation by Paul McAllister on 19/08/11

£20.00

+ £5.00 Gift Aid

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Thanks for the website and forum thread. Great effort all round. Good luck with the rest of the trip.

Donation by G S on 15/08/11

£10.00

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Good luck Matt. Hope it is all still going well and hopefully see you when you get back!!

Donation by Chris Raw on 28/07/11

£10.00

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Great to hear you have made it to your village.Good luck.Nanx

Donation by Muriel Blake on 27/07/11

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Golf Buddies sned their best wishes - we may miss a few more greens before you come home.

Donation by Carol Blake on 25/07/11

£50.00

+ £12.50 Gift Aid

Donation by American International School of Mozambique on 21/07/11

£122.85

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another losing bet - 1 Williams sister to win Wimbledon - doubled £5 with Satty and maybe I'll learn. Dad x

Donation by Robert Blake on 06/07/11

£10.00

+ £2.50 Gift Aid

Donation summary

  • * Online donations£15,794.80
  • Offline donations£2,083.30
  • Text donations£0.00
  • Total raised£17,878.10
  • Gift Aid£2,084.23

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