Hi everyone! 

I'm Natalie and I'm one of the Event Managers in the Oxfam Festivals Team. 

In the last couple of weeks, we've seen the cancellation or postponement of many festivals and events, as well as few of our shows (including Isle of Wight, Download and Glastonbury). We were on track to have one of our best years yet, with over 7000 volunteers set to raise more than £1,000,000 for Oxfam. Unfortunately, the amount we expect to fundraise will be really impacted by Coronavirus, so I wanted to do something positive (and safely socially distanced!) with the time I would have spent planning for and working on these festivals.

Before I moved to Oxford a couple of years ago, I hadn't ridden a bike since I was  about 10 or 11, and had never ridden a bike on a public road. I've improved a bit since then, but probably haven't been on my bike more than a couple of times since our last festival (The Long Road) in September last year and have done absolutely no training to prep for this! 

As part of Oxfam's Cycle for Change Challenge (https://oxfamapps.org.uk/cyclingforchange/), I've set myself a goal to cycle 500km throughout April and raise £500 for Oxfam. That means I need to cycle on average 17km or about 10 miles everyday (eeek!)

The £500 I'm hoping to raise could provide: 

- access to handwashing facilities for over 200 people, to prevent the spread of disease

- access to safe drinking water from a community water point, for 76 people

- 10 bicyles to vulnerable students, allowing them to travel to school quickly and safely 

- a smallhold farmer with 2 pigs, allowing them to provide biogas from pig waste for their home 

Its a difficult time financially for many people in the UK right now, so any donations / sponsorship will be really gratefully received. I'll be updating this page and tracking my miles on Strava to make sure I hit the 500km! 

Now more than ever, the work of Oxfam to end poverty across the world is so important, so thank you for supporting me and being a part of that. 

Natalie xx