Sebastian Tombs's Fundraising Page
Page creator: Sebastian Tombs
Event: caledonian canal cycle ride
Event Date: 29th Aug 2008
Team Members: Eva Tombs
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About our charity : Maun Homeopathy Project Maun Homeopathy Project
The Maun Homeopathy Project runs free homeopathic clinics for people living with HIV and AIDS in Maun, Botswana. It works in partnership with agencies in the local community and travels light with mobile outreach clinics for those most in need. It is training three local people to become homeopaths.
Charity Registration No 1109958
Fundraising target:  £1,200.00
Donations so far:  £ 1,290.00
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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!

Display Name Date Amount Tax Bonus  Comment
Lena Smith 03/09/2008 £10.00 £2.82 You've done it before, so I know you can do it again! 
Robin Baker 01/09/2008 £20.00 £5.64 Hope you didn't end up in the canal. Do you have eyes in the back of your head? 
Marc Ritchie 28/08/2008 £20.00 n/a Hope the trip remains dry. If not we've plenty of canals here in Dublin to explore your fondness for water! 
Barbara Badger 25/08/2008 £10.00 £2.82 Insane! But different. You deserve to make your target for that reason alone. Good luck!! (you might need it....) 
Elspeth Badger 21/08/2008 £10.00 £2.82 Hope you manage this trip crash-free! 
Ian Begg and Ruth 21/08/2008 £20.00 £5.64 Go for it, both of you and good luck 
Jocelyn Cunliffe and Alan Marshall 21/08/2008 £100.00 n/a Hope you don't fall in! Good luck to you and Eva. 
Sarah Crowley 19/08/2008 £20.00 £5.64 Words fail me! Good luck 
Edward Cais 18/08/2008 £20.00 £5.64 We wish Eva all the very best! 
Dakers Fleming 14/08/2008 £20.00 £5.64 I used to ride my bike this way when I was much younger than I am now. Great fun but quite precarious. Have fun.  
Ndanji 13/08/2008 £5.00 n/a goroga ka pula mo Botswana. ! how about cycling Backwards to Botswana? 
Mike Pringle 13/08/2008 £20.00 £5.64 There must be easier ways of making money 
David Jamieson 13/08/2008 £40.00 £11.28 Good on you both. we would love to see a video of you doing this 
Les Brown 13/08/2008 £25.00 £7.05 And I thought you were such a forward-looking guy!  
Grant Gordon 12/08/2008 £20.00 £5.64 Just keep your head down and your eyes shut; you'll be fine. 
Eilidh Donaldson 11/08/2008 £20.00 £5.64 Older but not wiser I see! 
Richard Shorter 11/08/2008 £10.00 £2.82 back to the future! good luck! 
Johnny Cadell 11/08/2008 £20.00 £5.64 I have to support such madness 
robin Webster 11/08/2008 £10.00 £2.82 I shall avoid the caledonian canal area while you are blindly cycling there. 
John P Robertson 10/08/2008 £20.00 £5.64 If £10 for every time you fall in the canal gives a higher total, I'll top it up! 
Peter Hillier 09/08/2008 £50.00 £14.10 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 
Susanne Goetzold 09/08/2008 £10.00 £2.82 I have every confidence in your ability, but I'm glad you are doing this AFTER the Fringe Concert! 
angus hardie 31/07/2008 £25.00 £7.05 Just tried it. Wobbled a bit then crashed. Ouch! 
Anthony Nicholson 28/07/2008 £50.00 £14.10 Psst! This might help: http://www.gadgets.co.uk/spy-rear-view-mirror-sunglasses.html  
Jacky Chalmers 20/07/2008 £15.00 £4.23 Good luck - and be careful! 
Roger Coppock 17/07/2008 £10.00 £2.82 Sensible to go forward while looking at the past! 
Priscilla Gordon-Duff 16/07/2008 £20.00 £5.64 How amazing! Good luck! 
Jim Hunter 16/07/2008 £25.00 £7.05 Bottoms up! 
June O'Hara 15/07/2008 £10.00 £2.82 Take care and good luck 
Nick Kavanagh 15/07/2008 £25.00 £7.05 I bet you can do great wheelies too! 
Louise McLeod 15/07/2008 £10.00 £2.82 Good Luck!  
Chris Morgan 15/07/2008 £25.00 £7.05 Doesn't your bum get sore? Good luck! 
Roderick James 14/07/2008 £50.00 £14.10 I understand you can now get bikes with a saddle so you can face forwards 
Jeff +Alison Kahane 14/07/2008 £50.00 £14.10 This is probably one of the sanest things you've ever done, Seb 
Anna Raven 13/07/2008 £25.00 £7.05 Mad! 
Adam Nicolson 13/07/2008 £30.00 £8.46 !og !og 
Steven Torrie 12/07/2008 £25.00 £7.05 let's be careful out there. 
mathew bittleston 11/07/2008 £140.00 n/a riding backwards? completely bonkers. i'd better send something before the dollar has no value... 
kay yuakyen 11/07/2008 £25.00 £7.05 good luck..  
Robert Davison 10/07/2008 £10.00 £2.82 And .... the next challenge, singing the Messiah backwards. Good luck 
Nick Cook 10/07/2008 £30.00 £8.46 no falls this time! 
Graham Morrison 10/07/2008 £50.00 £14.10 Good luck! 
Rosie & Ben in NZ 10/07/2008 £15.00 n/a You're an uncle of many talents!! 
Sheila Dalgleish 09/07/2008 £10.00 £2.82 Completely bonkers, but I have little doubt that you will do it. Try not to land in the water.... 
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*Total donated online: £1,175.00
Amount raised offline: £115.00
Gift Aid plus supplement: £252.44
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