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~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~MY STORY ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

On Sunday 27 September 2015, I completed my Cycle challenge, riding 64 Miles from LONDON TO BRIGHTON, to support a charity called 'HAVEN OF REST', to help raise funds for a Orphanage in Uganda. To give them better quality of life.  

My preparation for the cycle challenge consisted of two months training. I cycled everywhere, going to the gym, swimming and a bit of weight training on  my legs, to build strength. The training was tough but all worth while,  keeping in mind my 'BIG WHY', for doing it, which was to help raise funds for an Orphanage in Uganda, to give better life, food, education, health and training. So giving up, was not my up option.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~HISTORY~~~~~~~~~~~

My mother brought my first ever bike, when I was 10 years old, for my birthday. I love cycling as a child, but did not do much of it as an adult. The last time I cycled was over 10 years ago, and that was just for fun. I am a driver, and to be honest, I found cyclist on the London road, quite annoying. I believe many drivers would agree with me on this. When I became the cyclist on road, I started to appreciate the courage of cyclist and effort that goes into cycling.

I came out my comfort zone and had to make some new cycling friends, as I knew I would need some sound advice on cycling tips, wears, etc. I decided to join a cycling club, where I made new friends, with similar interest, and found it useful when it came to advice about road safety, and listening to their experiences. 

                         ~~~~RAISING FUNDS~~~~~

My goal is to raise £640 or more for 'HAVEN OF REST' charity. I chose £640 figure because, I cycled 64 MILES, which makes it £10 a Mile.  I believe every penny received will surly impact a child/young persons life, through education, health, food, play (toys) and training.

                ~~~~~~~~~MY JOURNEY~~~~~~~

I recently finished 'Bible Collage', in July. In one of my lessons a teacher named, Pastor Ade, challenge the students to be accountable to somebody to complete a task before the of year 2015. I told everybody, that I was going to do a cycle challenge & Cycle from LONDON TO BRIGHTON, which was 64 Miles to raise money for a charity. I said this without knowing how I was going to achieve this.

I brought a second hand ladies mountain bike for £40, from a bike shop, which was in very good condition. I cycled everywhere, from Camberwell (South London) to East Ham and back, from Croydon to Dagenham and back, from Brixton to Ilford,  Hackney to Grays (Essex) and so on. I done this to train for long distance cycling. 

It was not easy at all, in fact, when I first started to cycle, my bottom and legs use to hurt me for a long time. I was advised from the staff at the bike shop to keep on riding everyday, so that my body can get use to it. They said; after about a week the pain will go. It took about three weeks for my body to adjust to the bike, it was a painful start at first. I cycled through the pain, and had some rest days in between.  One day, I remember waking up with a sore bottom, and was not able to sit down. I almost gave up on the whole challenge experience, because of the pain. I kept going & eventually, my body got use to it and the pain went. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Last year I ran a 13.1 Mile Marathon for 'Cancer Research', and raised £290. This year 2015, I wanted to do something different for a different cause. I had my heart set on children in Africa. I didn't know which charity to support at first, and asked, Pastor Ade, if she knew of any.  She suggested a charity called 'HAVEN OF REST'. I checked them out, and was very touched and impressed with what they were doing for people in the third world and decided to support them.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

During the journey of the cycle Challenge, I faced a few challenges. I almost gave up again, because I didn't have the correct bike to cycle to BRIGHTON, which was a Road Bike. I thought my mountain bike was good enough,but was told by experts that my bike was too heavy and would make my journey to Brighton hard and I will get very tired quickly, if I decided to take it. So I hired a Road Bike. I discovered the big difference between a Road Bike and a Mountain Bike. Road Bikes are much lighter in weight, easy to carry and goes much faster on the road.

-----------------------------ENCOURAGEMENT -----------------------Thanks to all my Family, friends, Mr. Lekan, SimSlimmer Family, Pastor Ade, Pastor Peju, Champion Leaders Family, Facebook Friends, Staff from bike shops, cyclist on road, and strangers on the streets who cheered me on, at the point of giving up to Brighton.  

Your support & encouragement gave me motivation to keep going.

                 -------------------YOUR KIND GIFT ------------------THANK YOU SO MUCH for supporting me to raise funds for The Orphanage Children in Uganda. 'HAVEN OF REST',charity, they send their love and blessings to you all. 

Your KIND GIFT, will surly make a difference to someone's life out there. 

THANKS once again for all your encouragements, love, prayers and your enormous support through out this journey, of LONDON TO BRIGHTON 64 MILES. 

Moto: Ride a Bike Safe & Save Money on Travel. 

May God Bless You All Richly. 

MARIA ADESIOYE