2019 - big things!
Happy 2019!
I'm so excited about projects waiting for me this year. One of them is a crazy ride through Thailand. I’ve been told my new best friends will be those fancy bike shorts and butt cream!
About what I'm doing...
I'm going to ride 500km in 5 days through Thailand to raise money for the New Life project in Kanchanaburi, located near the Thai-Burma border in western Thailand. More than 50 children call Kanchanaburi home.
Children at Kanchanaburi have come from difficult situations: sexual abuse, substance addictions, or they have no family to care for them. Others have been used as exploited labour.
I need to fundraise $5,000: 100% of donations go directly to the children in Thailand. It's a lot but I believe we can get more!
How am I going to do it?
Raising money by… Special photo sessions, artwork sale, asking for donations and… an auction or raffle. I already have some amazing donations which I’m very grateful for but need a few more. If you would like to help, here is how.
Training… getting by bum saddle ready is already slightly painful. Also getting used to hills. If anyone wants to come riding with me, let me know! I’ve already started and did my first 50km ride the other day.
How you can help:
Anything would be helpful. If you could donate something, please get in touch. I hope to do the auction in late January/February when everyone is recovered from the summer holidays. :)
And in return (apart from the feel-good factor of helping me raise this money for the kids) I will smother your logo/tag name all over everything in the promo for it. I'll also mention on social media and in a blog post that goes out to an email list of nearly 1000.
I can also give you a hug. Who doesn't love a hug?
So where will the money be going? Here's a bit about Hands Group...
“Hands Group is an Australian, New Zealand and Thai social enterprise that gives at-risk Thai children and their communities a helping hand through our charity Hands Across The Water.
Hands Across The Water was originally formed after countless Thai children were left alone and homeless by the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami.
This charity was unlike many others, it was nimble, entrepreneurial and strived for goals that many thought were unattainable. Just over 12 years later, Hands has raised more than $20 million for the children and communities in Thailand and now cares for more than 350 children throughout the country.
The reason for the charity’s success is two-fold. Firstly, we don’t rely purely on donations. Instead, we create meaningful shared experiences for everyone involved with hands – experiences that truly provide food for the soul. Secondly, we believe in charity in the true sense of the word. This means:
Our care comes without conditions
We don’t seek to impose a religion or belief system upon those we support
We give children the chance to grow according to their own beliefs and traditions
Plus, 100% of donations go to the kids and their communities. No donors’ money goes to administration in Australia. Or staff costs. Or marketing. Or fundraising. “