While turning 40, most people mitigate by buying themselves a sports car or a motorbike. I didn't have the money or the inclination for that, so started talking to my friend Dave about alternate challenges for our 40th years. 

So I envisioned a cycling trip around the Italian Dolomites, but instead somehow we are running for 100km around southern England. That is an insanely long way I hope you'll agree, and so I wanted to take the opportunity to try and raise some money for Practical Action. Details below about them in case you're not familiar, but their name well represents their attitude towards solving global problems.

HELP FARMERS LIKE ALFRED BEAT POVERTYFamilies in Gwanda are struggling to feed themselves from the food they grow on their farmland. Because of climate change, devastating droughts and flooding have become more frequent in the region. Crops fail and people have to rely on food aid to fend off starvation.Alfred is a 61 year-old farmer who lives in Gwanda. A clever combination of inexpensive solutions have helped him and his grandchildren beat poverty.