Hello dear friends!

This October I am cycling across Uganda on a mountain bike in the middle of monsoon season to raise money for Product of Prison (PoP).

PoP is an amazing organisation supporting prisoners in Uganda, who are often forgotten and persecuted as a group, suffering social and economic exclusion. I spent time with some of them last year and they were some of the most inspiring people I've ever met. I was amazed by their hope, enthusiasm and resilience. PoP helps them develop skills so they can reintegrate back into their communities and create opportunities for a better life when they are released, breaking the cycle of poverty, re-offending and imprisonment.

I've never cycled for longer than a few hours in my life so this is going to absolutely destroy me! Some of you might know I recently popped a rib over another rib (not trying to get sympathy or anything) so prior training is going have to be pretty minimal. Which means cycling across Uganda on mud tracks in October is going to be a struggle. But it's going to be totally worth it because it's for an amazing cause.

I am covering the full cost of the trip, so all money raised goes directly to PoP. As a small organisation, your donation will go so much further than it would for a large charity. Just £18 can pay for career skills training for 1 prisoner over the course of a year, transforming their life chances for the future. £44,000 will cover the entire costs of PoP's work for one year, ensuring that 600 prisoners get training and are given temporary employment once released.  As a group, we are aiming to raise that as a combined total, and your donation will be a great support.

Finally, just to emphasise that as a pretty lazy slug-like creature, this will push me to my absolute limits. So please dig deep!

Thank you so much for your contribution, it's massively appreciated.

Anna