This August I'll be cycling 100 miles (160 km) from Gloucester to Leicester in order to help fund an expedition to Dharamsala in the foothills of the Himalayas, where we will work on a poverty reduction project whilst being immersed in the culture.

Working alongside UK charity Tong-Len, we will help to build a school hostel for children to live in and a greenhouse for growing organic vegetables, as well as helping to ensure each family has access to safe drinking water. We will also visit the Tibetan Children's Village, where we will teach English to the children (most of whom are orphans or refugees).

There will also be an emphasis on environmental sustainability, which will include a visit to the Tibetan Parliament and the Environment and Development Department where we will take part in interactive workshops to learn about the impacts of climate change on the fragile mountain ecosystems of the Himalayas, and how we can help local communities to respond to this.

We will be helping to support a range of local charities and businesses, including Blue Ulla, a recently established women's cooperative that produces Fair Trade knitwear, and Dolls4Tibet, which provides refugee women with the opportunity to work alongside Indian women in a supportive environment with flexible hours.

Finally, we'll be given the opportunity to learn about the local culture and the key religions in the area, including a special audience with the Dalai Lama, as well as visits to a Buddhist nunnery and the Taj Mahal.

Any donations, however small, will be much appreciated. Or, if you would rather support me through easyfundraising, where thousands of companies such as amazon, eBay and Marks and Spencer donate a small percentage every time you shop online, please have a look at https://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/emilysimpson/.

Thank you :)