I am 26 year old. Before embarking on this journey, I had always felt a great affinity for South America, travelling throughout and working in Guyana and French Guyane. My cycling experience was limited to two rides across France; this is my first adventure to the East. A graduate of Manchester University with a degree in French, I worked with Children With AIDS Charity (CWAC) in London as a fund raiser, as a cycle courier with Security Despatch, as an au-pair and as a French teacher. The year prior to leaving was consumed with saving funds, organising the logistics of the journey, raising sponsorship and securing contacts along the way.

21,000 kilometres to go! Photo: Courtesy of The Daily Echo, Bournemouth

Over the different stages of the ride, I hope to be joined by an eclectic group of friends. Due to the flexible nature of the journey, the internet will be vital in liasing when and where this will happen. I have tried to keep the cost of running the trip to a minimum by camping whenever feasible and keeping to a modest budget. (See 'money' in the reference section) The expedition is largely self financed. Sponsorship has helped greatly in reducing the cost of initial outlays and left me to concentrate on the day to day expenses, met in part by my personal savings and subsidised by writing 'on the road' travelogues. All money pledged to the Charity remains a separate entity and goes directly to the Charity office.