I have been hand picked to go to Soweto, South Africa, as I am such an inspiration and an exceptional graduate. And a leader in all fields. I will be going as part of the Warwick in Africa team where I will be joined by other equally inspirational and exceptional people to teach Maths (or English) to underpriviliaged kids.

 

What is Warwick in Africa?

A philanthropic project entering its 6th year that grew from a crazy idea into the wonderful thing it is today - we reach thousands of African learners and teachers every year in South Africa, Tanzania and Ghana. Each summer growing numbers (55 this year) of Warwick students and alumni head to Africa for between 4 and 6 weeks to pass on our knowledge of and enthusiasm for Maths and English in particular to our African friends. This page cannot do this amazing project justice: please visit the link below to watch a short video narrated by Lenny Henry for a good overview.

http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/giving/priority/responsibility/warwickinafrica/

 

How am I fundraising?

I will be starting easy and hopefully end on an epic scale so epic that Oxford will have to redfined epicness with a picture of me in full epic glory. So, to begin...

 

On the 3rd July 2011, I will be running 5k on Clapham Common. I aim run it in under 20mins, which would be amazing given recent training sessions (ie. almost dying despite only running 5k in ~23mins). Come and cheer me on!

DONE! 22:13. A bit disappointed but got me 11th place (out of 103).

 

After being inspired by the British Heart Foundation's mass bike ride from Clapham Common to Brighton, I will be cycling the London Marathon forwards and backwards on the Saturday 9th July 2011. In total, this will be about 60miles (including getting to and from the start point in Greenwich). I've got a "Vintage Racer" off ebay, I just need to sort out the tyres (and the brakes...). This will be done with Jack Jarvis who is in the Business and ICT department. He will be raising funds for the school Cambodia trip - speak to him for details of how to donate money for his charity.

DONE! It was a killer...

 

I will be attempting to cycle to work for a week starting on 11th July 2011. I live in West London and it is approximately 15miles to Welling School. If you do the maths, thats 30miles a day, 150miles over 5 days. That's like cycling to Brighton and back again. And then cycling back to Brighton. Again my Vintage Racer will be attempting to prove its worth.

DONE! Fastest time: 1h08m. Managed to get a puncture on my first ride (Monday morning) and the very last ride of the week (Friday afternoon)!

 

Finally, as part of the Teach First programme I will have to spend a week up in Warwick. So why not cycle? With this in mind, I will be cycling approximately 120miles in a day to make it up to Warwick on the 23rd July 2011, for my final assessment. Again, I will be doing this with Jack Jarvis who will also be attempting to raise money for a different cause - speak to him for more details.

 

Now, surely there is enough there for you to sponsor me and donate money towards the Warwick in Africa programme.