I am cycling 100 miles for the first time in the Prudential ride London 100 and would like to raise much needed funds for a UK run charity called Umunandi, which has been set up by an amazing family here supporting orphans and vulnerable children in Zambia.

Greenpark School provides an education and safe haven for these orphaned and vulnerable children who are growing up in a slum area of Lusaka with high unemployment, no free education and high risks of ill health and HIV. The only way out of this is through education and the founders of the school are working hard, with the support of Umunandi's sponsors, to provide a caring, supportive environment where these youngsters can thrive and survive and get a better start in life.

At the beginning of this year, a severe cholera outbreak hit Zambia. In an attempt to control the spread of the disease, the government closed public meeting places such as churches and schools, and banned street vendors from selling on the roadside.

Many families in Matero are dependent on the informal street-vending economy, so this ban hit them hard. With no money coming in and schools temporarily closed, their only choice was to take their children out of school.

As well as disrupting the kids' education, this has had a disastrous effect on the schools themselves. Many local schools have had to close down entirely.

Fortunately Greenpark School has managed to stay open throughout this time, thanks in part to their better toilets and sanitary facilities (built with previous investment from Umunandi). However, the number of fee-paying pupils at the school has dropped drastically, and with the loss of income the school is now facing an urgent funds shortfall

Your pounds will go a long way!!

Thank you very much xx