John Newcomb, CEO of the Builders Merchants Federation, got on his bike last weekend and cycled 105km along the Grand Union Canal to raise much-needed funds for a secondary school in Kenya.
John and his wife Sue, together with friends Mark and Julie Dickins, have been sponsoring children at the Kisima Mixed Secondary School in Nyahuru for a number of years. All four took part in the weekend cycle challenge to raise funds for the school itself. Having set themselves a relatively modest fundraising target of £5,000, they have already achieved over £11,500 and are now aiming for £12,500. All the money raised will go directly to the school.
Kisima School provides free education to children from disadvantaged backgrounds with proven academic potential to benefit from further learning. Their education will benefit their families and communities as well as themselves.
The four friends are travelling to Kenya next February to undertake voluntary work at the school and to see for themselves what a difference their fundraising will make to the life of the school and its students.
John said: “We enjoyed a great weekend of cycling and despite a couple of mechanical setbacks and a dodgy knee or three, we covered the route in good time. I would like to thank everyone who has sponsored us to date. We have been overwhelmed by their generosity in helping us to raise a truly amazing sum of money that will make a huge impact on the work of the school.”
Find out more about Kisima School at www.kisima.org or sponsor John and the team at http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/DickinsandNewcombs