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THANK YOU for visiting my first ever fundraising page! Before you ask about the non-biking photo here, well I don't have one, so what better excuse (not that I ever need one) to show off my beloved Elliott and Jasmin... and anyway the background would be identical:).

Between 3rd and 8th August 2009 I'll be cycling the Tour de Tuli, a mountain biking tour going through nature reserves starting in the Tuli Block (Botswana), Zimbabwe, and finally South Africa. This is an annual event and a main fundraising source for the Children in the Wilderness charity, run by the environmentally-conscious Wilderness Safaris company... you may have heard of the Tour de Kruger which was last year's equivalent event. We'll be cycling between 65 and 90 km per day through rocks and sand and sleeping in little sound-unproof tents along the way, while being charged by wild wild animals. Gruelling! I've recently begun training and have an impressive number of bumps, bruises, scabs and band-aids to show for it already. So you see, I'll need all your moral support, and what better way to push me on than supporting my great charity.

Needless to say, none of your donations will go towards funding my trip, every cent goes straight to Children in the Wilderness.
www.childreninthewilderness.com

www.tourdewilderness.com

Children in the Wilderness is dedicated to helping children whose childhoods have been interrupted and disrupted by life-threatening conditions such as illness, poverty and the HIV/AIDS epidemic. It was set up in 2001 and is active in Botswana, Malawi, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Using environmental education, therapeutic recreation and good old-fashioned fun, Children in the Wilderness exposes children to new opportunities, increases their self-esteem, builds and strengthens their capabilities to cope with life's challenges and educates them with the life skills necessary to actualise their greatest potential.

The Children in the Wilderness programme hosts children of between 8 and 17 years old in Wilderness Safaris camps (Wilderness Safaris is a safari company operating throughout Africa with a particular focus on environmental awareness and improvement). The children are hosted in groups of up to 45 participants at a time, for periods of about a week, at no cost to the school or child. The well-structured curriculum is offered in a safe wilderness environment where nature becomes the teacher and the healer, aided by experienced and well-trained counsellors and mentors.

As of the end of 2008, Children in the Wilderness had hosted 2 617 children throughout southern Africa and changed their lives dramatically and positively. No fewer than 381 children were hosted during 2007 and this figure grew to 480 in 2008 with the addition of camps in Zimbabwe.

During the children’s stay, the focus is on providing a wide variety of educational activities in an age-appropriate and fun way. By the end of the programme, many of the children are motivated to continue with their schooling and to strive for a better life.

Education topics covered during their stay include: the geology and geography of the region; the area's wildlife and its conservation; arts and crafts; theatre; nutrition, sport health and HIV/AIDS. Morning or afternoon game drives are an essential part of each day and often in the evening enjoyable wildlife and educational videos are screened.

The children are encouraged to participate in various team-building sports to contribute to personal and leadership development as well as to facilitate more equitable interactions between boys and girls. All field-based activities take place with the guidance of local guides and Wilderness Safaris lodge staff who become important role models for the children. The hope is to inspire more children to become guides, field rangers, conservations and ecologists or to make a valuable contribution to the sustainable development of Africa’s natural resources.

Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to donate.

Please donate generously. THANK YOU!!

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