Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

With the season of good will rapidly approaching I am taking this opportunity to try and to raise funds on behalf of two outstanding charities and would request if you could spare 1 minute to read the below .

UNICEF

With an increasing number of global conflicts and catastrophe’s UNICEF and its partners has assisted over 9.3 million children in 2023 alone with life-saving medical treatment and tackling severe malnutrition. UNICEF works to protect children and their rights globally and are currently operating in over 190 countries including the UK and Europe and most recently responding to the Ukraine & Gaza crises. Any donation could help to save a child who may otherwise die from cholera, typhoid or malaria. It will help build a temporary school where children can learn and find sanctuary in an emergency. It will provide a malnourished child with the vital nutrients they need to recover.

UNICEF is entirely reliant on voluntary donations. They are the biggest provider of vaccines for children in the world, provide life-saving therapeutic food for millions of children each year through nutrition programmes and work with governments, communities and parents to enable access to a quality education for every child.

Together for Short lives

Children's hospices are a lifeline for families, from the moment of diagnosis through to saying goodbye. Families regularly visit their hospice for respite breaks, therapy sessions, peer support, and pain & symptom management for their seriously ill child. Dedicated teams work at the hospice, at families’ homes and in the community. They are places of light and joy, where families can make the most of every moment they have together

Together for Short lives is the UK’s leading charity for Children’s Palliative care. They aim to give families who are facing the heartbreak of losing a child the precious gift of time together to focus on being a family

In order to try and coax donations I will attempting the Trans Andean Coast to Coast cycling challenge. This involves cycling (a change from running !!!) from the Pacific coast in Valparaiso Chile, crossing the Andes Mountain range (peaking at 3,850m) and across the vast Argentinean Pampas, finishing on the Atlantic coast in Buenos Aires Argentina. This is expected to take 9 days, covering over 1,700 km.

If you are able to spare even a small amount (the cost of a couple of drinks) this will go a huge way in assisting both these charities in their vital work.

Please note all donations will be split equally between Unicef and together for short lives