The Water Cycle
Mohamed Madi is raising money for Muslim Hands
Participants: Imran Mahmud, Imad Ahmed, Omar Abdel-Mannan, Tahir Mahmud, Tariq Razzaq, Shameq Sayeed, Mohamed Madi
Story
CHALLENGE COMPLETED SUCCESSFULLY BY ALL TEAM MEMBERS!
The Water Cycle challenge is complete! In 10 days of cycling, the team covered over 1,400 km, dealing with hazards ranging from night-time riding to snakes and lightning storms. Miraculously, the team arrived in one piece and is now safely back home. (Link for photos)
We'd like to thank you all for your kind support which kept us going when things got tough. You'll have to wait a little longer for the grand total though, as we're still collecting all your generous donations together. We can tell you that the total is already well clear (or 3 wells clear...) of our target. Watch this space for the final figure!
Please remember though this is only the completion of the first stage. The next stage is the construction and operation of the wells, which Musim Hands will take care of. We will get a full progress report, which we will of course share here. Also, watch this space for details of any further fundraisers that are in the pipeline in the next few months, as we realise that helping as many people as possible without safe water is a challenge that will take far longer to complete.
Thanks again for everyone's support, and we hope to see you soon,
The Water Cycle Team
Imran Mahmud, Imad Ahmed, Omar Abdel-Mannan, Tahir Mahmud, Tariq Razzaq, Shameq Sayeed, Mohamed Madi
NEW: Training diary - see the bottom of the page
MAP: View Larger Map <- click here!
The Challenge:
On the 21st of June, a team of 7 cycling laymen will set out on a gruelling expedition through France, beginning in the capital, and ending in the Mediterranean coastal town of Montpellier, some 1,100km to the South. All this to raise money for the construction of 3 Ground Water Wells in Sudan, through the international NGO Muslim Hands - United for the Needy.
The Route:
Our route will take us through some of the most breath-taking regions of France, including Fontainebleau, through the picturesque Loire Valley, Dordogne, the forests of Bordeaux, Toulouse, Narbonne and finally along the Med Coast to Montpellier, a total of 1100km! We will be camping on the way to keep costs down (we meet all our expenses, so all the money you give goes straight towards providing water sources for those most in need). To get in shape for this challenge, we have all started a gruelling training regime which will see us rack up some serious miles even before we start!
The Team:
Omar Abdel-Mannan - Medicine, St John's College Oxford
Imad Ahmed - History and English, Keble College Oxford
Mohamed Madi - Philosophy, Politics & Economics, Trinity College Oxford
Imran Mahmud - Medicine, Keble College Oxford;
Shameq Sayeed - Medicine, St Anne's College Oxford;
Tahir Mahmud - Team Doctor,
Tariq Razzaq - Team Engineer.
We will be leaving Paris on the 22nd June 2008, and will fly back from Montpellier on the 4th July 2008 (all in all, 10 days of cycling)
The Cause:
"The Water Cycle" takes its name from the cause we are supporting: through your help (Insha'Allah) we are aiming to raise £6,000 for the construction of 3 Ground Water Wells (£2,000 each) in the African country of Sudan. Each well is able to support up to 1,500 families, providing essential clean and safe drinking water.
Lack of access to clean drinking water and sanitation is the leading cause of illness in the world. Shockingly, 1.1 BILLION of the people on this planet do not have access to safe drinking water. This is a key part of the ongoing struggle to avoid life-threatening disease and diarrhoea among some of the world's poorest nations. An estimated 3,900 children die daily as a result (many from diarrhoea) - that's approximately one child every 15 seconds (or one child since you began reading this paragraph).
There are 2 reasons for this: 40% of world's population do not have access to safe pit latrines, and 20% do not have access to clean drinking water. Muslim Hands, who will execute the construction of the wells on our behalf, are experts at this type of project. For more details of their work see www.muslimhands.com
The CharityThe charity we've chosen is Muslim Hands - United for the Needy - an International NGO (Non-Governmental Organisation) based in the United Kingdom.
Reg'd charity no. 1105056. Annual spending on charitably projects ~ £7m (in 40 countries)
You can contact the charity on 0115 911 7222; or email contact@muslimhands.org
Muslim Hands does not discriminate recipients on grounds of:
+ religion + race + ethnicity
Muslim Hands is a signatory of "The Code of Conduct for the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement":
(View the code of conduct here: http://www.ifrc.org/publicat/conduct/)
How can YOU help?
By sponsoring us, of course! This is your chance to get involved with a unique project that will really make a difference where it matters. We will be fundraising throughout Trinity term; keep an eye out for our cyclathons on the streets of Oxford, and watch this space for details of a special charity dinner planned with Oxford University Islamic Society.
Remember: no donation is too small. Why not sponsor us per kilometre?
Thanks for visiting our site, and please don't forget to donate, and help us reach our target!
But how much of my donation goes to administration costs?
0% - not a penny. All money for admin costs comes from donations specified to cover admin costs, or a fraction of the Gift Aid reclaimed on your donations.
Are you really endorsed by Lance Armstrong? (see picture)
No - the message was photoshopped in! (Microsoft Paint actually, and I'm sure Lance wouldn't mind)
So what are you waiting for? DONATE NOW!
Planned Fundraising events (tbc)
+ Charity Dinner
+ 24hr Cycle in Oxford
+ Food sale, Flora Anderson Hall, Somerville College (Fridays during term, 1.45pm)
Many thanks for your kind support!
Training Diary:
Week 19th May – 25th May:
All in all, one of the best weeks of training so far; this week saw Imran finish his exams and make a return to training, after a couple of quiet weeks.
Furthermore, Imad has fully recovered from his recent injuries sustained after a bicycle crash last week – unfortunately the bicycle has not, but the guys at Oxford Cycle Workshop are doing their best to get the bike back on the road.
Wednesday saw Imad and Madi smash their own personal best of longest distance cycled in one ride, with both of them completing a gruelling 85km through some of the biggest hills the Cotswolds had to offer.Henley-on-Thamesprovided an excellent half-way point at which to rest.
Friday/Saturday: Oxford - Camberley - Oxford
Imad, Imran and Madi cycled to Imran’s house in Camberley on Friday, a total of 75km one-way. They were met by a grand feast prepared by Imran’s mum, and were eager to “carb-load” in preparation for the ride back on Saturday, during which they were accompanied back to Oxford by Tahir, and Omar (who took the train to Camberley on Friday night after his final exam). The return trip on Saturday was the first time that 5 members of the group had cycled together, and taught them many important lessons in traffic-negotiation and working together by using slip-streaming.
Totals for this week:
Imran – 214km
Madi – 237km
Tariq – 43km
Shameq – 99km
Tahir – 157km
Imad – 237km
Omar – 76km
Week 25th May – 1st June
Midweek was fairly quiet, with several of the guys recovering from gruelling distances the previous week. It was decided that on Saturday, there would be long group ride of 140km, from Oxford – Cirencester – Oxford. Many of the guys made excuses along the lines of “resting their legs” in the days leading up to Saturday, and took as many opportunities to “carb-load” aka stuff their faces, as possible. One of the many benefits of cycling is that you have to increase your food consumption BIG-TIME (a requirement particularly enjoyed by one team member)…
Anyway, excuses aside, it appeared that all 5 of Saturday’s riders were feeling strong and rearing to go on Saturday morning – unfortunately Shameq was shaking off a cold, but nonetheless battled through admirably.
The route to Cirencester was carefully mapped out the night before by Imad (at 3am!), and was designed to include as many small B-roads as possible, avoid highways, and to pick as scenic a route as could be managed. Imad’s efforts came to fruition on Saturday, with a stunning, picturesque route through the most quaint of English Countryside, directed by Imran’s navigation skills and a small piece of paper with town/road names illegibly scribbled on.
Excepting a short stop in Bampton, the team cycled virtually non-stop to Cirencester, eating and drinking much of their food and sugary drinks whilst cycling. There were (several) unscheduled toilet stops for one team member in particular, who seemed to have eating “something fishy” that necessitated a toilet break every hour…(!).
Cirencester proved to be a beautiful little town, with many small shops, cafes and restaurants. Shameq appeared to be a little over-whelmed by the choice in places for lunch, so much so that he decided to fall off his bicycle in dramatic style not once, but TWICE within 5 minutes, in the middle of the busiest district in Cirencester’s bustling town centre, much to the amusement of passers-by.
After 20 minutes of unsuccessfully scouring the streets for a pizza hut buffet, the team stumbled into Pizza Express, and gorged themselves on some delicious pizzas (the Padana is highly recommended!), and stocked up on sugary drinks at the local Tesco. We also bumped into a cyclist from Australia who spends a month of every year cycling around England and wales on a hybrid bike, carrying 22kg of his kit, and cycling at an average of 10mph – as if that wasn’t enough to make us feel inadequate (with all our lycra, carbon fibre and aluminium racing bikes), he was about 65!
After the meal, the team pumped themselves full of caffeine and set out to complete the 70km back. For Shameq, the outward ride of 70km was the furthest he had ever ridden in one go – and now he was expected to do it AGAIN! He and the rest of the team battled through gallantly, with Tahir and Imad taking the lead at the front of the train of cyclists, and generating some slipstreaming wake for the rest of the riders.
Imad came through especially strong in the last 5 miles – when everyone was looking like they didn’t have any juice left in those legs, Imad, powered by rice (crispie cakes) took the charge and pulled as along at 30+km/hr into a strong headwind, screaming and grunting ferociously in the process like man possessed.
Finally, the team stumbled back into Oxford, in one piece, at 7pm. All in all, an excellent trip – it physically and mentally pushed the riders to their limits, and beyond, and provided an all-important cycle-logical boost, as they now know that if they can ride 140km in one day, then their daily target of ~120km in France should be manageable. More importantly, none of the riders suffered from cramps, damaged bikes or punctures.