Education helps children live Happily Ever Smarter; it breaks the cycle of poverty, empowers entire communities and gives children the opportunity to create their own brighter and more secure futures.

However, for children, like Amir, who live in the foothills of the Himalayas, Nepal, the opportunity to get the education he needs and escape the poverty cycle feels like an impossible fairy tale. At just 6 years old, Amir's only chance to go to school means walking 180 minutes everyday, there and back.

In reality, Amir cannot often go. He is one of the 11.3 million children in South Asia who is out of education.

"Team Tour de Farce" are just a few rag-tag, maturing cycling and running chums, who (unlike Amir) have the luxury of being able to find 180 minutes each weekend to exercise away our cares, enjoy each others company and explore the beautiful Kent countryside!

So with the trusty Strava app to track our progress, we are joining the UWS 180 Challenge and have set ourselves the goal of individually riding or running 180 kilometres between the 1st and the 28th July (a genuine challenge for the TdF Team!). But we are also keen for others to join the challenge so the TdF Team will be actively sending out invitations and encouraging others to do so too!

£180 is our minimum target, but we will ride-or-run-like-the-wind to raise as much as we can and at least try to help turn children's lives around through education.

It has never been more crucial for children to access a good education, no matter where in the world they are. For every £1 you give to UWS before the 29th July 2021, the UK government will match your donation by giving another £1, enabling more children to live Happily Ever Smarter.