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!

 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!