Mitt 40-årsfirande till förmån för Pikilily

Om en månad fyller jag 40 och jag planerar ett annorlunda födelsedagsfirande. Planen är att lämna de trettio genom att helt enkelt springa in i fyrtioårsåldern – och samtidigt samla in pengar till välgörenhet. I stället för presenter och födelsedagskort önskar jag mej donationer till förmån för Claire Elsdons projekt Pikilily i Tanzania. Claire är en vän från WIMA GB som nu är bosatt i Mwanza i Tanzania. Hon arbetar för att bygga upp en motorcykelverkstad med syfte att utbilda och anställa lokala arbetslösa kvinnor som mekaniker. Claire vet vad hon pratar om – 2012 reste hon genom Afrika, på motorcykel naturligtvis, och såg med egna ögon på kunskap gällande motorcykelunderhåll. En motorcykel som inte underhålls korrekt riskerar inte bra att gå sönder utan kan bli direkt trafikfarlig. Hon ville göra något åt det och samtidigt stödja det lokala samhället genom att skapa arbetstillfällen. För mer information se Pikililys egen hemsida och Claires hemsida.

Claire är crowdfunding för att finansiera kostnaderna för att bygga och utrusta verkstaden. Hon planerar att ha fyra arbetsplatser i verkstaden och om mitt födelsedagslopp kunde hjälpa henne att finansiera en utav dessa skulle det verkligen göra min (födelse-) dag! 🙂

Varje arbetsplats behöver:

  • momentnyckelsett (stora och små) – £50
  • mikrometer (mätverktyg) – £20
  • vippindikator – £20
  • hydrauliskt bromsluftnings kitt – £30
  • domkraft – £20
  • blocknyckelsett – £20
  • hyllsnyckelsett- £50
  • kedjebrytare – £10
  • hyllenheter för förvaring av olja, reservdelar och däck – £30
  • oljetråg och tratt – £10
  • bladmått – £10
  • tång – £10
  • skruvmejselsett – £10
  • gummi hammare – £8
  • skruvstäd – £25

Därutöver behöver Pikilily följande som kommer att delas mellan arbetsplatserna:

  • två multimeter – £20 (x2)
  • en kompressor med däcktrycks tillbehör – £150
  • en hydraulisk bänk – £350

Så vad är tanken med det hela? Jo, som del i mitt födelsedagsfirande kommer jag att springa Eastbourne 10k vid Beachy Head i södra England. Även om sträckan är blygsam i jämförelse med vad jag har gjort tidigare så är bansträckningen desto mer utmanande: det är 1 mil i kuperad teräng, men med fantastiska vyer över kusten. Jag siktar inte på ett personbästa i tid utan jag vill njuta av löpningen och atmosfären samtidigt som jag närmar mej de 40 med stormsteg. Så om du tänkt skicka mej ett kort, bjuda på en drink eller ge mej en present för att markera mitt åldrande så ber jag dej istället låta de pengarna gå till Pikilily. Och om du inte hade tänkt ge mej något alls fast tycker Pikilily är ett fantastiskt projekt så är du också välkommen att donera. Du kan ge pengarna till mej direkt, eller sätta in dem på mitt Pay Pal eller bankkonto så skickar jag dem vidare till Claire på min födelsedag. (Kontakta mej för uppgifter: asa@forza.greynorth.net). Om du hellre vill donera direkt till Claire så går det såklart också bra. Hon har en crowdfundingsida hos Just Giving där du kan göra din donation.

I for International or “WIMA – connecting people”

After a summer that never seems to end, I’m now settled in the South of England for a while. I’m house sitting for WIMA-friends who are travelling in Africa. Following that the last weekend camping up at Haggs Bank was a wee bit cold in the morning hours, I’m happy for the comfort of a house – although I especially appreciate the terrace and I bring my books out to study in the sun as often as possible.

Being settled in one place also means that I can take part in activities more easily and last weekend was an exciting one. Double events were taking place in Brighton so I packed up and went over to stay with Sue, from WIMA. The shop, On the Wheel, were having an opening event and she was prepping for a stall so I came along and helped. We spent the day chatting to female riders, members and non-members alike, about biking and all our activities within the organisation. I truly appreciate these meetings, it is one of many reasons why I’m happy to represent WIMA as vice-president! I was once asked if i get paid and the answer is, simply, it isn’t a paid job – it is a lifestyle 🙂

WIMA members - old and new at the On the Wheel opening
WIMA members – old and new at the On the Wheel opening

In addition to this, a group from WIMA Belgium was over for a short holiday and we took the opportunity to meet up with them for dinner on Friday. It is a funny thing with WIMA, even though we had not met previously we connected instantly – it is the power of the sisterhood of WIMA, all these friends that you have not yet met!

English pub dinner with WIMAs from Belgium, GB and Sweden
English pub dinner with WIMAs from Belgium, GB and Sweden
A great little ride escorting the Belgian WIMAs towards Dover - lovely to meet you and thanks for insisting to pay for the meal!
A great little ride escorting the Belgian WIMAs towards Dover – lovely to meet you and thanks for insisting to pay for the meal!
Sue and I chilling out on Brighton seafront after a hectic weekend
Sue and I chilling out on Brighton seafront after a hectic weekend – thanks a lot for hosting me this ace weekend!

Now I’m back in the house and my focus is getting ready for my birthday-charity run supporting Pikilily – a project in Tanzania run by WIMA GB member and world traveller Claire Elsdon. I will post the details by tonight, stay tuned!

 

Horizons Unlimited Adventure Days at Haggs Bank

My tent is cleaned and packed away, no more camping this year. I’ve spent last weekend at Haggs Bank in the North Pennines having a great time at Horizons Unlimiteds travellers meet. Although the meet was mainly geared towards the off-road riders, there were activities for everyone. An initial evening with bonfire, beer and band was followed by an action packed Saturday. First, I signed up for the Beginners Off Road ride, but I had second thoughts when I saw the first and easiest of the hills we were to ride. No way the little gravel riding and occasional green laning I have done was enough preparation for that incline on loose gravel. The Kawasaki Versys is a top-heavy bike with road tyres and I have a charity run coming up so I can’t afford to hurt myself. I made my excuses and went for a solitary road ride and lunch in the sun instead.

To further fill my afternoon, I signed up for a 3 hour mine tour and suited up in wellies, overalls, hard hat and headlamp. We were a group of 8 participants, four adults, three children and me, who after a security briefing on how dangerous mines are, went into the darkness. The deepening water was sloshing around our wellies as we got deeper and deeper into the mine. It would be almost knee high at the deepest section and we were prepared that for one passage we would have to crawl. After a shade over 5 minutes, the youngest boy said he didn’t feel safe and wanted to go back. “I can go with him” I heard myself say. In that instant I knew that I could probably continue but chances were I would panic and it would be no fun at all. Happily we returned to the sunlight, not all fears need to be challenged and we were both pleased to be above ground chatting about old times when people worked in the mines day in and day out for decades, even children smaller than my young companion. Five minutes was enough for me, after all it was a beautiful day – too beautiful to spend underground. I went for some up-hill running instead, taking in the view over the fields –  a view that goes on for ever and ever. What a fantastic location to kickstart my running training for the charity run. I added some yoga in the sunset outside my tent before joining the crowd drinking beer by the bonfire listening to the band.

A run with a view
A run with a view

Sunday was the Beamish Trophy Trail and I fully enjoyed seeing the riders take on the challenge of climbing the hill next to the campsite – an extraordinary effort on these old beautiful machines. For the rest of the day I studied Spanish in my tent as people left and the campsite grew quiet.

One of the many contestants taking on this challenging strech of the Beamish Trophy Trail
One of the many contestants taking on this challenging stretch of the Beamish Trophy Trail

It was a fantastic end to my season – or so I thought, it seems like the season never ends here. Next weekend I’ll go to Brighton and help at the WIMA stall at “On the Wheel”.