Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge - enabling access to an education through the gift of a bike.

In November last year I looked at my daughters 'retired' Road Cycling Bike and it got me thinking maybe I could put it to use for something good, maybe I could set myself a challenge and along with this use it as fundraising opportunity. Now to put things into perspective I had not ridden a bike regularly since I was in my teens and while I stayed active through walking, and maybe the odd run, regular physical activity was not something that featured as part of my daily, weekly or even monthly routine. Like many of us trying to juggle an active family life along with work, exercise or doing something yourself often gets set aside so I knew in order for me to commit to a challenge, and more importantly to see it through, I needed a purpose. I needed to find a motivator. I needed my ‘why’.

I first visited Cambodia in 2008 and upon my return struggled to reconcile within me the extreme poverty I saw and the vulnerable situations that many Cambodians, especially the children, live in. The story of this country like many others is heartbreaking. The images that had been etched in my mind made me restless. My conscience would not let me sit by and do nothing but I was lost as to where to start then in a matter of months of my return, by chance, I stumbled across Denise and The Cambodia Charitable Trust (CCT). The goal of CCT is to transform lives through education and they work on a number of levels to achieve this including child sponsorship, funding schools, developing education programs and teaching the new generation of teachers. “Education is the largest lever for social change in Cambodia. Education breaks the poverty cycle, protects girls from sex slavery, boys from slave labour and opens the door to a bright and purposeful future for each child”.

The chance for an education can see a child walk many kilometers to get to a classroom while for others the distance simply means they forgo this opportunity. Here is where my challenge and my purpose connect. Back in November I set myself the challenge of completing the Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge (to be held on the 30th November 2019) and at the same time raise funds to purchase bikes to enable children in Cambodia to access the classroom. Now, there has been many a ride over the past 10 months where the wind, rain, sun or hills have almost broken me however having had the recent privilege to visit one of the many schools CCT support and seeing firsthand the pure joy the children have from being in a classroom provides the motivation I need to keep going.

The Taupo Cycle Challenge is a 160km ride around the Lake and my ultimate goal would be to raise enough funds to purchase 160 bikes. The gift of a bike is approximately $80.00 and 100% of all donations will go directly to purchasing bikes. Any contribution you can make towards this fundraiser is greatly appreciated.

Please consider donating so a child can pedal their way to a brighter future.

To learn more about The Cambodia Charitable Trust visit: www.cctnz.org.nz