My Story

On the 25th February and on my 51st birthday I have set myself a lockdown challenge to complete 228km on a stationary bike in my back garden, as part of the Snowland Journey's Reintegration Programme fundraising event.

I'm doing this challenge to support the reuniting of Nepal's Himalayan children with their families after 12 years apart, achieving an education that would otherwise not be possible - a whole childhood away from their parents!

The distance I'm cycling equates to one of the routes that many of the young people need to make in order to return to their home villages, often taking 15 days on foot just to get there, before having to make the journey back again to continue further education.

By returning home the children gain an understanding of why they were sent away. The sacrifice their parents had to make to realise their potential, and for them to realise they are deeply loved.

Snowland Journey's Reintegration Programme prepares the students and their families emotionally and physically for this vital reunion, helping with personal and social development, social work support as well as support for actual journey home. We are hoping to send the next group of students back home in May 2021 and all money raised from our Vrekking Challenge will go towards supporting this project so that we can help them and future groups.

Appreciate times have been tough for many of us over that last years or so. These young people have been through the 'ultimate lockdown' for up to 12 years and it’s vital that this reunion takes place. Please support in any way you can and please forward this fundraising page to any friends, families, work colleagues etc. Any contribution at all is greatly appreciated and will make a massive difference to these young peoples' lives.

Warmest Regards

Phil

PS Pictured here in my garden with my support team for the day!