Pedal to Paris for Uganda Appeal
Way back in 2008 I was very privileged, honoured and humbled to be part of our first trip to Uganda and it's fair to say that the experience changed my life. Seeing first hand the struggles these wonderful kids had every day just to survive let alone get to school and give themselves the chance of a better future will stay with me forever.
Jo Murphy asked me for a paragraph of my experiences and I struggled to stop at a page ...... I have added that later.... but she also challenged me to Pedal to Paris for Uganda ...... knowing that 10 years ago I was part of a team who rode from London to Brussels to raise funds for Uganda.
So 10 years on and a few stone heavier .......
I have taken up the challenge to come out of retirement, get my arse in gear and get back on the bike to raise money for such a brilliant cause and are asking you all to support me in this epic adventure.
A team of us will be leaving from the London Eye on Friday 30th August with an aim to arrive at the Eiffel Tower on Sunday 2nd September a trip of 270km !!
Thank You all for your support and encouragement
Uganda – How it Touched Me
It’s interesting as I think back to my trips to Uganda and look at the photos, reflecting on the folks I was lucky enough to travel with (who will always have a special place in my heart as we shared such an emotional journey). I think about the range of emotions I went through from disbelief as we had to work so hard on our first trip to get permission to help and ensure all of our aid went to supporting the communities with building schools, teachers houses and separate toilets for girls and boys, through to disbelief and horror at the conditions we saw and the struggles the kids had to go through just to get to school, be amazed at the commitment and determination the teachers showed just to get there to teach the kids (this would normally mean a 4-6 hour trek up a mountain and the same back again in the evening). Despondency when hearing stories of the girls plight of abuse and worth to the family meaning that most would not even finish primary school. To the absolute joy when meeting the kids and the amazing folk that were there supporting their education and growth. Truly amazing wonderful people. Having the privilege to meet, share experiences, play (overly competitive football on the side of a mountain), and even take a lesson in a class was a truly humbling and uplifting experience and one I’ll never forget.
I have so many memories that it’s difficult to think of individual ones …… was it Reg showing the kids their faces on the phone and seeing the wonder in their eyes as they’d never seen their self before other than a reflection in a river or a broken mirror and had never seen a photo! Or Francis taking a maths class and struggling to keep control or even watching Deborah and Jo negotiating with local government officials in order to ensure that we could support these communities in the best way possible………. Or even the sense of achievement when we actually made it up the mountain to the school and the look of joy and appreciation from the kids …….. this couldn’t fail to move you and I think it’s fair to say during our trips there was a lot of tears and many times when even I was lost for words.
I am immensely proud of what has been achieved with the Uganda project and that we have helped the communities help themselves, we have never tried to impose but support them in becoming self-sufficient in trade in order to create an environment where the kids could go to school and get an education that in turn will support generations to come.
I feel very privileged to have had the opportunity to visit Uganda on the first trip, humbled to be asked to lead a subsequent visit and honoured to work for a business that really cares.
On a personal level I have no doubt that these experiences have helped to change and shape my view of the world and me as a person and I will always be grateful for the brilliant people I have met and who have truly enriched my life and my world.
Thank you.
Jo Murphy asked me for a paragraph of my experiences and I struggled to stop at a page ...... I have added that later.... but she also challenged me to Pedal to Paris for Uganda ...... knowing that 10 years ago I was part of a team who rode from London to Brussels to raise funds for Uganda.
So 10 years on and a few stone heavier .......
I have taken up the challenge to come out of retirement, get my arse in gear and get back on the bike to raise money for such a brilliant cause and are asking you all to support me in this epic adventure.A team of us will be leaving from the London Eye on Friday 30th August with an aim to arrive at the Eiffel Tower on Sunday 2nd September a trip of 270km !!
Thank You all for your support and encouragement
Uganda – How it Touched Me
It’s interesting as I think back to my trips to Uganda and look at the photos, reflecting on the folks I was lucky enough to travel with (who will always have a special place in my heart as we shared such an emotional journey). I think about the range of emotions I went through from disbelief as we had to work so hard on our first trip to get permission to help and ensure all of our aid went to supporting the communities with building schools, teachers houses and separate toilets for girls and boys, through to disbelief and horror at the conditions we saw and the struggles the kids had to go through just to get to school, be amazed at the commitment and determination the teachers showed just to get there to teach the kids (this would normally mean a 4-6 hour trek up a mountain and the same back again in the evening). Despondency when hearing stories of the girls plight of abuse and worth to the family meaning that most would not even finish primary school. To the absolute joy when meeting the kids and the amazing folk that were there supporting their education and growth. Truly amazing wonderful people. Having the privilege to meet, share experiences, play (overly competitive football on the side of a mountain), and even take a lesson in a class was a truly humbling and uplifting experience and one I’ll never forget.
I have so many memories that it’s difficult to think of individual ones …… was it Reg showing the kids their faces on the phone and seeing the wonder in their eyes as they’d never seen their self before other than a reflection in a river or a broken mirror and had never seen a photo! Or Francis taking a maths class and struggling to keep control or even watching Deborah and Jo negotiating with local government officials in order to ensure that we could support these communities in the best way possible………. Or even the sense of achievement when we actually made it up the mountain to the school and the look of joy and appreciation from the kids …….. this couldn’t fail to move you and I think it’s fair to say during our trips there was a lot of tears and many times when even I was lost for words.
I am immensely proud of what has been achieved with the Uganda project and that we have helped the communities help themselves, we have never tried to impose but support them in becoming self-sufficient in trade in order to create an environment where the kids could go to school and get an education that in turn will support generations to come.
I feel very privileged to have had the opportunity to visit Uganda on the first trip, humbled to be asked to lead a subsequent visit and honoured to work for a business that really cares.
On a personal level I have no doubt that these experiences have helped to change and shape my view of the world and me as a person and I will always be grateful for the brilliant people I have met and who have truly enriched my life and my world.
Thank you.
Organizer
Mike Hewitt
Organizer
England
THE T.K. MAXX AND HOMESENSE FOUNDATION
Beneficiary