My names Cathy and I’m a songwriter from near Oxford, UK

Some of my friends live a long distance from here and they really need our help. I’m sure you’ve heard a lot about it in the News.

As you may already be aware, I’ve been fundraising and sending money for food to each of the five families that I’m helping. Thank you so much to those of you that have donated. It’s made a huge difference to their lives and helped to give them hope.

We speak to each other a lot on the phone and it has made me very aware of the reality.

I now feel strongly in my heart that I need to do more.

Seeing them have such immense courage has helped me to find my courage again. It’s been three years since I last rode my bike but I’m feeling ready to cycle again. This time I’d like to cycle to Cyprus beach from the UK.

My main aim is to show my friends that are suffering , that we are with them in our hearts, as well as continuing to fundraise to send funds to them.

Also I hope to show my friends in the UK that we are not powerless despite the rulings that leave us feeling disempowered. We each have a unique voice of humanity and can help to save lives.

I’ve cycled from my doorstep in Northamptonshire through Oxford and on to Portsmouth. I cycled from Caen and Sadly I’ve now left the bike in France and returned home until I can raise more funds to travel.

I’m hoping that in april 2026 I’ll be able to continue the journey through France Italy, then across Greece, Rhodes and across Cyprus.

From the beach of Cyprus I’ll send bottles full with handwritten messages from my friends in the UK and from myself, in a hope that some of the bottles might wash up on the shore where my friends are suffering so deeply. If it made them smile for a moment it would be worth the whole journey and maybe it will help to bring a feeling of togetherness and hope.

I’m also carrying teddies with me that each of the children from the families that are suffering have chosen. Even though they know that they won’t be able to have the teddies in real life due to the borders being closed, each of the teddies bring hope and colour to the children’s lives. At the moment the children see everything in their lives as being grey due to all their homes having been destroyed.

Each teddy is chosen by each child and has its name on a necklace. Each teddy is a symbol of each child.

I’ve thought carefully about whether my trip is important enough to merit the money that I’ll have to fund raise to make the journey possible, but after much thought, I feel the message of the journey is an important message of truth and hope. I’m hoping that this journey will encourage more people to donate money for food for the families by highlighting their suffering.

It will probably take me three months to cycle this distance and the costs involved will be mostly needed to make sure I have a place to stay each night (90 nights), travel costs such as ferry crossings and the flight back home, as well as maintenance costs of the bike.

Any help towards these costs will make the journey possible and will be hugely appreciated.

Due to the situation being an emergency for my friends lives and hopes, I haven't had time to do any fitness training, but having done a trip across the U.K. and France a few years ago, I feel if I take it steady I can build my fitness as I go.

I have released songs called ‘we are with you’ , ‘let us be free’ , ‘the world is crying’ and ‘my angel’

https://open.spotify.com/artist/1T5O9Ev75KMXJSY5jBc6OT?si=UIYLAtk3Tiu62DTJQGouyg

I hope you’ll join me on this journey in your hearts and together we will do everything we can to help save the lives of my beautiful friends.

Cathy