Update: my bike has been stolen. Most likely I won't be able to setup proper gear before the trip. But I'm not giving up. I'm going to walk 5 marathons in 5 days on English shore, Brighton to Margate. Please see detailed update:

https://cyclingdevs.com/blog/2018-07-24-walking-instead/

Update Aug 4th: After small feet injury I had to cancel further walks. But we matched the target and we still can fight for Szymon (for next few days donations are open). I'm going to publish detailed information about the trip including costs and income on official action blog:

https://cyclingdevs.com/blog/tags/result/

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Official website https://cyclingdevs.com

Inspired by amazing action Informatycy Na Rowery which gathers local developers who cycle miles to support children in need, I decided to cycle last year 300 miles and managed to collect £560 (112% target) for University of Liverpool Pancreatic Cancer Research Fund. It was a very personal thing as my dad has passed because of pancreatic cancer.

This year I wanted to continue the action and maybe encourage some London colleagues to join. To follow INR more closely I decided to support a child in need. One close to our hearts is Szymon, 10 years old, Szczecin Poland. In 2013 he was diagnosed with a spinal tumour. It was extracted during the surgery, but that resulted in him losing the ability to walk.

Szymon and his parents spent years on rehabilitation. It was a difficult and challenging journey for both. Anyhow, Edyta - Szymon mom, has not pushed them both from difficulties of the events but started to motivate and support other people in need. During their both passion for the sport, Szymon grows from difficult and stubborn kid to a real fighter, and Edyta became an example for others to follow.

But that isn't the end of the story. As rehabilitation goes on financial needs continue, which makes massive pressure on the family budget. Thanks to the support of Foundation Złotowianka and many good people Szymon is able to progress. But much more is needed. One rehabilitation camp for the boy costs around £1000, move modern wheelchair which would allow Szymon to do sports requires about £2000, their flat would benefit from some amendments that will allow Szymon would be more independent in daily life.

If we manage to collect more than the goal we'd have even more chances to improve Szymons life.

All funds collected via JustGiving will be sent directly (via Transferwise transfer) to Szymon account in Foundation Złotowianka, which is officially registered Polish foundation under full governmental supervision. Szymon parents can use that money only under the foundation control and only to improve Szymon quality of life.

I (and anyone who would like to join me on any distance) will cycle 500 miles in 5 days from London, via Stonehenge, Lyme Regis, New Forest, Southampton, Brighton, Dover, Canterbury, back to London. The event will start on Wednesday, August 1st and end on Sunday, August 5th. For short sleep and rest, we'll stop on camping sites. The whole trip will be presented on Instagram.

Details on how results of the crowdfunding improve Szymon life will also be posted here after fundraising closes.