How You Can Help

Fundraise for DT

You can organise fundraising events in your local area or email us with your fundraising ideas.

[Read More]

Spread the Word

Email your friends and family and encourage them to donate.

[Read More]

Sponsored Cycle Ride - London to Paris

Wed 1 July - Sat 4 July 2009

Imran Azam, challenged himself to cycle from London to Paris and sucessfully raised £25,246 for the Mali Children's Village. Here's his story and video diary:

Day 1

'The Road to Dover’ can be summarised as:

1 puncture • 6500 calories consumed • 30-35 degrees heat • 7 litres of water consumed • 7 hours riding • 95 miles covered • countless hills • 1 sore backside!

As promised here's the first video update (posted online).

Day 2

Hope you all enjoyed the video update for Day 1. So Dover was conquered and we left the story in Calais. The distance from Calais to Abbeville (our next stop) was 75 miles in total, and once again the sun was set to add to the challenge - and so it proved with temperatures of 35 degrees.

To find out how it went (and whether or not I’ll be flaking out sometime soon, and spare you having to shell out your pledges), here's the video for Day 2.

Day 3

Delayed Onset Muscular Soreness (DOMS) occurs 2 days after strenuous exercise. In order to combat this Ibuprofen is required the night before and the morning before a long ride. Anyone who has ethical problems with pill popping for pain relief can take a running jump ;-).

On another note it happens to be my birthday today and this did not escape the organiser's attention – as is customary a pre-ride rendition of Happy Birthday ensued from 120 [barely awake] cyclists. Highly embarrassing, check out the video.

Anyway, here’s a rundown of the journey so far: Day 1 - 95 miles to Dover • Day 2 - 73 miles to Abbeville • Day 3 – 68 miles to Beauvais – YES!!! • God willing next stop Paris

After this evenings meal the cyclists pounced again for a final rendition of Happy Birthday. AND even a cake with candles and calls for a speech...to which I duly obliged of course ;-) I got to tell everyone about the Mali Children's Village.

Day 4

And now the end is near, so I face the final... hang on what am I talking about? It is the end! I’m in Paris!

It has been emotional...

That’s all folks – thanks for all your support.


Copyright © Development Trust Registered Charity Number: 1102977		Children's Village \| Livestock Donation \| Gift Aid \| Ways To Help \| Links