In February 2016 3 ladies will be cycling some 6000 km across mountain ranges, deserts and forests from Thailand to Uzbekistan. We start our journey in Bangkok and will head north though Laos and into China. We will head through the Yunnan province, then going north and west to eventually reach Urumqi. We will cross into Kazakhstan and head towards Bishkek in Kyrgyzstan. We will then take on the mighty Tien-shan mountain range. This will be just a warm up for we will then set of across the Pamir highway from Osh to Dushanbe. This is known to be one of the most challenging terrains in the world for cyclists, with multiple passes over 4000 meters! It will require careful planning, endurance and team morale. Our friend and cycle companion Phil will be joining us for the Pamir's. The final leg of our journey will take us across the Uzbek border to the silk road city of Samarkand. 

So why have we decided to do this? ... I think the main reason is our sense of adventure! We have always loved the outdoors and the 3 of us have spent many a good time walking or cycling around the UK. We have certainly not done such an undertaking as this and it will certainly be a huge challenge for all of us!   We all reached a position where we had been working really hard for many years in our jobs (we are two social workers and a doctor) and felt like we needed a well earned breather.

Importantly the trip also gives us a really good opportunity to raise some money for a good cause! We have  been struck by the plight of the world's refugees of recent years and felt passionate about raising money for this cause. We believe in a world where all vulnerable people receive health care; whether they are affected by poverty, exclusion, war or natural disasters. Doctors of the World operate both UK and international programmes, focussing on: conflict and crisis, families and children, vulnerable refuges and migrants. In the past year they have provided healthcare and therapy to refugees in Calais; provided humanitarian health assistance in Nepal; and provided 1454 medical consultations for vulnerable people such as pregnant migrants in their London clinic. They have many many other crucial programmes dedicated to providing health care; particularly across Europe with the current refugee crisis. Here is an idea of what your donations could help provide:

£7 could pay for a hygiene kit for a Syrian refugee

£10 could provide a set of antenatal & post-natal consultations for women in rural Nepal

£20 could pay for a psychological consultation for a survivor of war and conflict

£70 could pay for treatments for two people affected by cholera in Angola

£100 could pay for a doctor & two nurses to staff an emergency clinic

Thank you in advance for any donations. We will keep you updated on our trip via our blog http://womenonwheelsuk.wordpress.com 

Thanks for all your support

Amanda, Louise and Jenny