In January I am travelling to Mumbai to volunteer for OSCAR International. OSCAR uses football to instil the value of education and empower underprivileged children from the slums with life skills to take responsibility for the development of their community. Ashok Rathod, co-founded OSCAR in 2006 aged 18. Born and brought up in the Ambedkar Nagar slum in Mumbai, he had a difficult life but was fortunate his parents sent him to school. An education gave Ashok the chance to create a better life, whilst many of his friends fell into crime, addiction and early marriage. Ashok was determined to do something to stop the destructive poverty cycle. He set up OSCAR with 18 school drop-outs, teaching them football and patiently waiting for his moment to introduce the concept of going to school. Today OSCAR engages over 3,000 girls and boys.

At the end of September I am going to cycle the Wiltshire Cycleway, 160 miles, over two days. Despite going with my Dad (who loves stupid crazy exercise challenges, ie the multiple marathons he has done) this is not something I would ever do and therefore I am having to push myself to do it. Thus it would mean a lot to me and the children supported by OSCAR, if you were very generously to sponsor me in this wacky challenge. Fortunately I will be able to see the effect of my fundraising first hand which makes me keener to raise as much as possible for these children.