Wednesday 20th May, 2009
Eric Waters 1000 mile sponsored bike ride for Neema Crafts!
In February 2008 I was privileged to work in Tanzania, with Andy and Susie Hart, from Harrogate. They set up Neema Crafts Workshop for disabled people in 2003. I witnessed how they are changing so many lives as well as cultural attitudes towards people with disabilities. In September 2008 I walked the Inca Trail to Machu Pichu for Neema Crafts.
I am now going to undertake the biggest challenge of my life. I will cycle from Lake Maggiore in Northern Italy to Harrogate, starting on Monday 25 May.
It will be well over 1,000 miles, and requires cycling over two of the highest passes in the Alps. The hardest part of the challenge comes in the first 3 days. The ride starts at 630ft above sea level, and climbs continually for 70 miles before starting the awesome ascent of the St Gotthard Pass which rises to over 6,900ft. I will descend to Andermatt (4,700ft) before another gruelling climb up the Oberalp Pass (over 6,700ft). After that I can relax (???) downhill for the next 800 miles, following the River Rhine all the way from its source through Switzerland, Leichtenstein, Austria, Germany, France and the Netherlands to the North Sea. I will take the overnight ferry from Rotterdam to Hull, before cycling the final leg of this epic journey, from Hull to Harrogate. The return trip should take 3 weeks to complete, arriving back in Harrogate on Sunday 14 June. My wife, Di, and I will drive to Lake Maggiore, and Di will drive back. We intend to meet up each lunch and evening – provided she can work out how to use her Sat Nav!
Neema Crafts moved into a new, much larger, purpose built workshop in February 2009. Funds previously raised in the UK to fully pay for the new building and new equipment have been badly hit by the recent fall in the value of the pound, creating an unexpected shortfall in their finances of £25,000. So please sponsor me now to help to bridge this gap. Initially I thought £5,000 would be a fantastic – but almost impossible – target, however, with Gift Aid to be added to the online and offline donations pledged so far, this target has already been exceeded, so I have now set my sights on £7,500. Every penny donated goes to Neema Crafts.
To sponsor Eric and help him reach his target, please go to : www.justgiving.com/ericwaters
