Virtual Everesting for Oxfam

When the corona virus pandemic reached New Zealand and it became apparent that we were going into "lockdown", I decided not to worry about what I can't do on my bike for now, and think about what I can do. Thanks to a run of broken bones, I have a smart trainer which makes indoor riding very realistic. I set myself a goal of virtual-Everesting at the end of the initial lockdown period.

To qualify an Everesting attempt, you must ride up and down the same climb, in a single ride, until you accumulate 8848 vertical metres of ascent. "Zwift" is a program that allows me to ride in a virtual world called Watopia, which has a 1036m climb called Alpe du Zwift, which I will have to climb nearly 9 times. I am going to attempt this on Saturday 25th April. It is likely to take me at least 14 hours.

I realise that we are in uncertain economic times, and many of us have lost and will lose significant amounts of income, but I would like to use this as an opportunity to raise some money for Oxfam.

Although Covid-19 is having devastating impacts on everyone, those effects are dramatically magnified by poverty. The basic tools we take for granted in our fight against this pandemic – healthcare, hand-washing and physical isolation – are simply out of reach for many people living in extreme poverty or grappling with the devastation of a disaster, such as Cyclone Harold, which hit the pacific islands at the beginning of April. Oxfam is working in those areas, doing basic things that save lives - distributing emergency sanitation and water kits, supplying soap and other hygiene supplies from local markets, building hand-washing points, installing water purification plants.

I support Oxfam because as well as providing emergency relief, they work with long-term with local communities to find sustainable solutions to allow people to lift themselves out of poverty.

Even if you can spare a dollar for every 1000m I climb, that will make a real difference.

Thanks for your time and support.

Peg