Raised: 108%
Target: £1,200.00
Raised so far: £1,290.00
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My story

 

Thanks for visiting my fundraising page.

I am raising funds to support my wife EVA to go for three months to work with Aids patients at a homeopathic charity in Northern Botswana. Homeopathy makes a huge difference - visit the charity's website, noted below, for all the evidence!

We are cycling the 60 miles or so from Inverness to Fort William on the 30/31 August weekend, and on the canal-side sections I will be reverse cycling!


REVERSE CYCLING? This a bit of a black art - and not for the faint hearted!  Basically, you ride your bike by sitting on the handle bars (ignore the caption that mentions a steering wheel - on a bike?!!) and pedalling backwards.  The only difficulty is that you can’t see where you are going!!


But, I have done this before.  In June 2005 I helped raise over £1700 by reverse cycling the 58 miles from Edinburgh to Glasgow along the Union and Forth and Clyde Canals from Edinburgh to Glasgow.  The Waterways Board insisted I wear a life jacket, and sign a disclaimer about Weil’s disease. Despite going (backwards) over the handlebars on 3 occasions, I was fortunate not to end up in the water!


The Caledonian Canal runs in shorter lengths between the Beauly Firth and Lochs Ness, Oich, Lochy and then down to Loch Linnhe. I will be cycling normally on the mountain tracks and the roads when not on the tow paths, because it really is too dangerous to go backwards when the terrain is not flat, or where there is traffic.

The other night I met Graeme Obree, who revolutionised speed cycling with his home-made machine and controversial body position. He and his bikes are now Scottish icons! He told me that sitting with ones back to the direction of travel is "by far the most efficient method" - as it cuts down on wind resistance! I'll try to remember that as we head into the gales blowing yp the Great Glen which we, perversely, are doing directly into the prevailing wind!


The Maun Project is a great project to support.  Have a look at their website for more information.  www.homeopathybotswana.com  

 I TRUST YOU WON’T BE BACKWARD IN COMING FORWARD!


Your payment is a one-off payment and not dependant on miles, so give generously now, by clicking on the 'sponsor us now' button below.

I'll keep you up to date on how it all goes via these pages.


Donating through Justgiving is quick, easy and totally secure. It’s also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Maun Homeopathy Project gets your money faster and, if you’re a UK taxpayer, Justgiving makes sure 25% in Gift Aid, plus a 3% supplement, are added to your donation.

So please sponsor me now!

You've done it before, so I know you can do it again! Donation by Lena Smith 03/09/08  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Hope you didn't end up in the canal. Do you have eyes in the back of your head? Donation by Robin Baker 01/09/08  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Hope the trip remains dry. If not we've plenty of canals here in Dublin to explore your fondness for water! Donation by Marc Ritchie 28/08/08  

£20.00

Insane! But different. You deserve to make your target for that reason alone. Good luck!! (you might need it....) Donation by Barbara Badger 25/08/08  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Hope you manage this trip crash-free! Donation by Elspeth Badger 21/08/08  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Go for it, both of you and good luck Donation by Ian Begg and Ruth 21/08/08  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Hope you don't fall in! Good luck to you and Eva. Donation by Jocelyn Cunliffe and Alan Marshall 21/08/08  

£100.00

Words fail me! Good luck Donation by Sarah Crowley 19/08/08  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

We wish Eva all the very best! Donation by Edward Cais 18/08/08  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

I used to ride my bike this way when I was much younger than I am now. Great fun but quite precarious. Have fun. Donation by Dakers Fleming 14/08/08  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

goroga ka pula mo Botswana. ! how about cycling Backwards to Botswana? Donation by Ndanji 13/08/08  

£5.00

There must be easier ways of making money Donation by Mike Pringle 13/08/08  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Good on you both. we would love to see a video of you doing this Donation by David Jamieson 13/08/08  

£40.00 + £11.28 Gift Aid

And I thought you were such a forward-looking guy! Donation by Les Brown 13/08/08  

£25.00 + £7.05 Gift Aid

Just keep your head down and your eyes shut; you'll be fine. Donation by Grant Gordon 12/08/08  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Older but not wiser I see! Donation by Eilidh Donaldson 11/08/08  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

back to the future! good luck! Donation by Richard Shorter 11/08/08  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

I have to support such madness Donation by Johnny Cadell 11/08/08  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

I shall avoid the caledonian canal area while you are blindly cycling there. Donation by robin Webster 11/08/08  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

If £10 for every time you fall in the canal gives a higher total, I'll top it up! Donation by John P Robertson 10/08/08  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

You could not choose a type of charity closer to my heart. I lived in Botswana for 5 years. All the best in helping their wonderful people and country Donation by Peter Hillier 09/08/08  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

I have every confidence in your ability, but I'm glad you are doing this AFTER the Fringe Concert! Donation by Susanne Goetzold 09/08/08  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Just tried it. Wobbled a bit then crashed. Ouch! Donation by angus hardie 31/07/08  

£25.00 + £7.05 Gift Aid

Psst! This might help: http://www.gadgets.co.uk/spy-rear-view-mirror-sunglasses.html Donation by Anthony Nicholson 28/07/08  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

Good luck - and be careful! Donation by Jacky Chalmers 20/07/08  

£15.00 + £4.23 Gift Aid

Sensible to go forward while looking at the past! Donation by Roger Coppock 17/07/08  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

How amazing! Good luck! Donation by Priscilla Gordon-Duff 16/07/08  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Bottoms up! Donation by Jim Hunter 16/07/08  

£25.00 + £7.05 Gift Aid

Take care and good luck Donation by June O'Hara 15/07/08  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

I bet you can do great wheelies too! Donation by Nick Kavanagh 15/07/08  

£25.00 + £7.05 Gift Aid
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* Total raised online: £1,175.00
  Offline donations: £115.00
  Gift Aid plus supplement: £252.44

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Find out how much it is and what we do for it.