(Cover photo from our last ride in 2022).

From 18th-22nd September we will be cycling in the foothills of the Himalayas in aid of Doctor Graham’s Homes (DGH) We will ride from Paro in Bhutan to the DGH campus in Kalimpong, West Bengal, India, a total of 420km (260 miles) with over 7,400 metres (24,000 ft) of climbing.

DGH was founded in 1900 by a Scottish missionary, Dr John Anderson Graham, with the aim of providing a secure home and schooling for orphans and underprivileged children from Calcutta and the Darjeeling area. It is where Karen’s father Tony and his three brothers lived and studied in the late 1930s and early 1940s.

The U.K. charity arm of the school (DGHUK) provides sponsorship for well over 100 children, and all the proceeds from our fundraiser will be split equally between DGHUK and planned renovation works at the school. This is a fully self-funded event, so all the money that we raise will benefit the school.

Some of you will recall that we undertook a similar event in September 2022. It was an amazing experience, and we have some incredible memories, including cycling through the tea gardens of Darjeeling, climbing the Old Silk Road to Lava (a 25km continuous climb with over 1000 metres of climbing):, and cycling in the protected state of Sikkim, close to the Chinese border. One of the most amazing and emotional memories is our arrival on the outskirts of Kalimpong, where we were paraded through the town by the school’s pipe band playing Scotland the Brave! All the children at the school then lined the route up to the school, clapping and waving flags, as the band continued to play. It was clear just how much our efforts meant to the whole school, and we hope to repeat that again this year.

If you are interested in sponsoring a child, then please visit:

www.drgrahamshomes.co.uk

Karen & Janet

Our welcome on the outskirts of Kalimpong

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