Instagram: 1600kmstocadiz

12th July. Today I am 64 – old enough to stop working (and claim my pension) – so I am going to do just that. Notice the avoidance of the “r” word. The first thing I want to do is something I enjoy, is a personal challenge - and benefits others.

So, in six weeks time - on 25^th August I am setting off from my house near York and I am cycling to Cadiz in southern Spain solo and unsupported - as a fundraiser for the incredible charity War Child – and to raise awareness of their amazing work. The route will be 1600kms - home to Portsmouth - by ferry to Santander - over Los Picos to join Camino de Santiago - west to join Via de la Plata to Seville and then onwards to Cadiz. 

For the whole of my working life I have worked in the arts and with children: I am interested in War Child because it was founded by two filmmakers working in former Yugoslavia in 1993 who were so shocked by the impact that war had on the lives of children who were utterly powerless victims. Over the years famous musicians have performed benefit gigs and recorded albums for the charity and raised its profile. Early on Music Therapy was used to heal children traumatised by war and ongoing, when appropriate, other creative approaches are used in their work.

War Child works long term in six countries - so that its work is focused and can have long lasting healing benefits for the children it works with.

“We aim to reach children as early as possible when conflict breaks out, and stay on to support them - long after the TV cameras have gone home. 

We help keep them safe, give them an education and equip them with skills for the future"

This ride will be a mega - personal - physical challenge. I only started riding “seriously” – i.e. any distance or speed 5 years ago. It was only last year that I first cycled 100 kms in one day in the Heart of the Wolds Sportive. I have ridden the Tour de Yorkshire for the past three years starting with the short route and graduating to medium for the last two. My longest ride to date is 5 days - having ridden a different long distance Sustrans route for the past 4 years - starting with Way of the Roses - and my average daily distance has been 80kms.

A message of support from Sir Gary Verity,CEO of "Welcome to Yorkshire"

“I’m always delighted when I hear someone has become passionate about cycling and how fantastic Elaine is using this love to help others. We wish her all the very best for this huge challenge and will be following her journey closely as she flies the flag for Yorkshire across Europe en route to Spain.” 

So - friends, relations, contacts - wider circle of contacts - and people I meet on my journey - please support me in my endeavour. I am aiming to raise at least £3200 which will be the equivalent of £2 per km. Please pass on the link to this page to everyone you can think of.

The money you donate will allow War Child to reach more children fleeing war and provide them with the safety and access to education they need to flourish - an enormous Thank You for your support!

Donating through JustGiving is the preferred option for War Child. It is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.