So, only after considerable reflection did Team O’Neill decide to launch this fundraising site,  to compete in our annual bike ride and write the next chapter of the inspirational legacy that is Lessons For Life; now Street Child. 

We asked  ourselves the question;, what would Shane (the iconic Founder of Lessons For Life , beloved family leader, friend, colleague, client  to many of us ) have done  ?

Conclusion?

He would have recognized the success of the Lessons For Life /Street Child merger in impacting children's education & well being in fifteen  of the world's poorest & most  challenging countries. Taken pride in the existential reach & impact of his creation .Been inspired by Street Childs “front line impact”, & execution in honouring tough  commitments, during the crisis. Proud of leading from the front in launching our COVID19 response ;intensifying interventions in accelerating education,leveraging Digital Technology to enable last mile access & remote learning; as well as carrying out awareness raising activities. He would have understood the moral argument , that today's Global world is more interconnected than ever; so supporting our local communities AND placing  investment/Trust in Street Child were not mutually exclusive. On the contrary he would have argued “Thats what Leaders do !”

So this week ; O’Neill family & friends , together with the Liberty Group, its strategic suppliers, & the entire Street Child Family have embarked on a “ Virtual mission” to ride around the world. We are attempting to CYCLE over 45,000 KM from London through all fifteen countries where Street Child operates. Our aspiration is to raise a further half a million pounds ! This will enable the continuation/acceleration of the ground breaking work that the charity is doing at a time where education is under attack , safeguarding children's rights 

Is more important than ever;& the Charity's experience, achievements , lessons from dealing with the eBola crisis , is an isolated “beacon of hope” for many kids & families in these Asian/African countries. Finally, he would have extolled the importance of LEADERSHIP. Leaders create Leaders; & we have the best in Tom Dannant; who left a great career to devote his life to building the best team; creating the biggest impact in the Charity sector. 

So where are the annual anecdotes around the pain, suffering, embarrassment associated with our annual bike ride  ? “ Virtual” sounds like a walk in the park (excuse the pun)!!  We know without fear of contradiction; that cycling (after months of lockdown ) 200-400km over a few days, in our “socially distanced” Group of six (or less in Scotland !!) , with weather ranging from heat waves to rain storms ; in the crocodile infested hills of Dublin, Glasgow, Surrey has caused pain, fatigue, anguish & as ever a few laughs Sheelagh & Marlene defied all medical evidence , by cycling nearly 100 km yesterday in the fearsome Surrey Hills: without once halting their multi dimensional catch up conversation.

Matt on the other hand heroically navigated 70km in the flat terrain of  Richmond Park; before being assisted to a nearby pub!

Marlene, Sheelagh ,Gary enjoyed much needed alcohol infusion after the gruelling seven hours on the bike 

The response so far to the street child cause has been humbling. Liberty as ever has led the way. The generosity of our Corporate sponsors in redirecting £200,000 to our Virtual mission is a testament to the outcome focus of Street Child . A special shout out to Accenture who have already contributed an inspiring total & have riders in our team ( thanks Matt) as well as many amazing sponsors/supporters !!. As we enter the final throes of our mission; we have attached the link to sponsor us . 

These are very strange times for all of us. Every £ sent to this link, we promise & we are confident will truly make a difference .