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Dayvy outside the Elephant Terrace

Bleep bleep bleep the alarm goes at 4am on Saturday the 5th December 2009!!

Noting the darkness I grumble at the bleeping that has awakened me. Slowly I remembered why I had set the alarm clock soooo early I was getting up to see Angkor Wat at dawn, a task done by many visitors to Siem Reap every day however, this morning was different! The first weekend of December hails the popular marathon and bike ride which brings many tourists to experience the temples in a different way. And this year I, along with Sangkheum Center’s Young Adults and Educators were participating.

The day before I had checked my bike, washed it down and entered all participants ready and raring to go on behalf of all HOPE supporters. We had twenty in total from Sangkheum Center, plus Thomas (London to Brighton HOPE fundraiser in July), Dayvy (my cycling partner and motivator throughout the course), Samnieng (last year participant who came 14th in the overall men’s race – London 2012 here we come!!)  Natasha (fellow expat) and Mr. Kunn (Jasmine Lodge guesthouse owner and Project Manager for My Grandfather’s House).

Having proudly sewed the HOPE logo on my basket the night before (which I may add did receive many a comment ‘nice basket!!’), I pinned the number 99 to my Sangkheum T-shirt which as I mentioned before signifies that “I give hope to young generation” aptly missed ‘A’. Slightly ironic as the initial hope I gave to Sangkheum was indeed teaching them the English language!! All set Dayvy picked us up by car, dumping the bikes in a tuk tuk! (Motorised transport ) summonsing up the energy to cycle 30km I was lacking the motivation to do a further 8km just to get to the starting point. On the way we passed hundreds on bikes making their way to the temples, we arrived relatively fresh and ready to go!! However, after the race refueled by a chocolate brownie from Blue Pumpkin I quite happily raced back to town afterwards.

On arrival to the temples we met the Sangkheum team who were pinning their lucky numbers to their new race t-shirts. They were all very excited and full of energy. The boys were all teasing who was the best and who would win from their team. Bota (see his training blog here) was determined he would be first having trained closely alongside Samnieng and Thomas for the last few months. His training also saw him running from town to Sangkheum Center which is 12kms from town.

As we lined up at the starting point the sun was beginning to rise over the wonderous Angkor Wat and the reality and emotions hit that we were actually here. We raised over 1,000GBP and had given a goal for the young adults to work towards. It had been months since they all chorused they wanted to do a sponsored cycle and today their wish had come true. They had trained every Sunday as group cycling around the temples, Tonle Sap Lake and back to the center for several months and were now all lined up at the starting point for the big annual bike ride….

On the off everyone pushed off as hard as they could, but Dayvy and I took it slow taking everything in. From Angkor Wat to the gates leading to Angkor Thom up to Bayon, past the Elephant Terrace and across the big circuit to Sras Song. Passing Sras Song I knew the hard part was over and stopped for some refreshments. Being one of the last ones (I admit it) there were no bananas left!! At this stage I was in need of energy, but no matter we still carried on.

We passed green padding fields as the mist rose clearing to be a beautiful day. The weather and temperature had been perfect and we were relieved when the sun stayed cool. We passed the finish line 2 hours later to the cheers of the others. They had been patiently waiting for us for an hour!! They had raced very hard and some had done very good times within the hour. Motivated by their efforts they are already talking about where they will come in next year’s race and if they continue training every Sunday from now they will definitely be in the top twenty. So, I say good luck to them and well done for working so hard for their achievements. They truly were cycling for their own futures and like with everything they do they accomplished it as a team, with determination and with a great big smile.

Not long to go till Thomas, Bota and I with 18 other educators and young adults from Sangkheum Center for Children will be on our bikes cycling through the temples of Angkor Wat in Cambodia. We have been heavily fundraising on behalf of the kids to raise money for their own future and so far we have raised $1,393.00 online!! Which is just fantastic!!

HOPE have entered 19 Sangkheum staff and young adults to participant in the cycle ride. Costing just below $500 the money goes towards some more projects in Siem Reap supported by Village Focus.

When Village Focus began their community hygiene and clean water program, the community worked hand in hand to create a program to build and use 70 latrines and 5 wells. Access to safe water results in families spending less time and money caring for family members who fall sick. It is now expected that the children from Kansaeng Leu Village studying at secondary school in the coming years will rise significantly.

Even though Village Focus has provided 1,164 latrines, 46 wells, and 2 ponds in Siem Reap province, it is clear that many more families are in a dire need of safe drinking water and sanitation facilities.

Village Focus operates Slum Schools, Community Leadership Programs, and Health and Clean Water Projects that touch lives and are making a difference.  Please support them and us further in supporting many projects in and around Siem Reap by sponsoring the young adults. CLICK HERE FOR HOPE’S JUST GIVING PAGE!

Here are our last minute prep notes…

1. The road is in good shape, but do be on the lookout for potholes and buckling road (smooth but abrupt changes in the asphalt). The course should be fine for those on road bikes, but there is a stretch of about 5 meters that is rocky… and rough (a volunteer will be standing in front of this to tell you to slow down and be careful; road bikers may even opt to walk it). Be careful when you ride and with everything you do while in Cambodia, since our medical facilities are still very basic.
2. There will be 3 water and snack (bananas and bread) stations along the route; 1 at approximately each 10K interval. The 30K route is 1 lap, 55K is 2 laps, and 80K is 3 laps (laps are 25K each, plus a 5K stretch to reach the start of the 1st lap).

Bota

Every Sunday the Sangkheum Young Adults are training for the 30KM bike ride around Angkor Wat. Each week a different route is planned to see many parts of the beautiful countryside in Siem Reap. If you would like to join us we leave at 8am every Sunday from Soria Moria Hotel. If you would like to help the Young Adults help themselves please visit their sponsor page here.

Dear all………….!

Hello, how are you? For me it’s fine. I am Bota, and I am 18 years old and I have fourth brothers. They’re live in Sangkheun Center for children. I have been live SCC for six years ago. So, now I leave the Sangkheum Center already, but I still in the Sangkheum project we called “Young Adults Integration”.

Now, I want to tell you about bicycling practice. Every Sunday in the morning I have been practice bicycling with my friends, Teacher, Samnang, Thomas, and Jo. I am filling great. You know why? Because this the first time that I have a bicycle racing and learn how to race, too. The first I am filling a bit tired, but it fun for me. Although, I am getting tired but it’s good exercise. I love to exercise. I usually work out everyday. I get up early in the morning and run for about 00:30min. Then I often go to play football. Sometimes I go for a walk in the evening, about once a week.

Bota’s story about bicycle.

When I was small I tried to ride a bicycle, but my father didn’t want me to ride a bicycle, so when my father went away I tried how to ride again and it was exciting and fun. Unfortunately I felldown on the ground and blood came out a lot from my foot, so my older brother helped me to stop the blood. You know? I had tried with my older brother, but he didn’t falldown like me, becaues he was bigger than me. I really wanted to try to ride a bicycle because in that time the bicycle was modren and it to expensive and I had to try and learn. When I learnt how to ride a bicycle I was 6 years old. But, I still have the scar!!

That my story ….

Thank you,

Bota

Amy says….

I went to Cambodia in 2007, just for one week as part of a four month trip with a friend, but it had more of an impact on me than any of the other countries I went to.  I knew I wanted to do something to help or raise money but it wasn’t until I entered a marathon this year that I started looking.  That was when I found HOPE, and the trustees seemed to have had similar experiences to me.

They obviously put in a lot of time and effort to make sure that support is given to the people who need it most and where it will help the most.  The projects they are part of will help the young people of Cambodia and enable them to become independent, improving their lives for the future while respecting local customs and businesses.  It will allow them to break out of poverty and then help others to do the same through learning and playing.

There is so much we take for granted in our lives, so visiting the orphanage in Cambodia was really emotional for me.  I was amazed by everyone’s generosity with sponsorship and I know the money raised will go a long way.  The months of training I put in really paid off too as the marathon went really well.  The weather was perfect, the marshals were very friendly and encouraging and we kept a good pace.  We ended up finishing over ten minutes faster than we intended, despite the last mile being pretty much all uphill!  I thought I might cross the finish line thinking “never again” but I actually can’t wait for the next challenge now!

As for the winners, The Book Club came in at close second but were pipped at the post by 3 Under the Eight with 62 points!

It was good to see some old school faces, thank you Colin’s Cavaliers for coming and Heidi and Katy for their continuous support! In conjunction with the quiz we ran a raffle and thanks to Sarah for rallying around and selling a bunch of tickets which boosted the nights funds no end! The Landlords of the pub donated further into the pot rounding the total figure to £300.00. Thank you Jane and Alan for providing the venue and all your support!

A big thank you to my Mum for researching and reading out the questions and for Dad for being a diligent score keeper and for paying for the winning round of drinks!  Thanks to all those for coming and for helping the evening to be great fun! We plan to do another one soon, but not on the same night as England playing football!!  I shall keep you posted.

In the meantime, why not test your knowledge and try some of the following questions…

1. In New Orleans, the Mardi Gras festival occurs each year in which month?
2. Prior to 1664, what was New York called?
3. Which animal’s name literally means river horse?
4. By what name is the lower jawbone in vertebrates more correctly known?
5. What football team is nick named the Trotters?
6. Which twisting circuit on the Grand Prix calendar is only 1.95 miles long?
7. What is the name of the route from Winchester to the shrine of Thomas Becket at Canterbury?
8. In 1967, what was filmed around West Malling, the High Street and the airfield as a backdrop for a promotional video?
9. Where did the Flintstones live?
10. What is the value of the letter “G” in scrabble?

Send your answers in on the contact us page and see if you are worthy for the next pub quiz challenge!!

After having faced his share of dust, red sand, rain, dirt, and Cambodian roads of varying conditions, Thomas was looking forward to cycle the beautiful scenic route from London to Brighton in HOPE’s London to Brighton Cycle Challenge alongside Katy Shaw who commutes to central London everyday by bicycle.

Both challengers took on Tanya’s 2009 cycle challenge and showed great motivation and fitness after conquering the 50 + miles from Streatham to Brighton Pier. Saturday night poured with rain and it was sheer luck that it cleared by 7am on Sunday morning.

After leaving London and suburbia behind, the journey took them through picturesque Surrey and Sussex villages. Taking rest at Pease Pottage service station, Heidi and I stocked up their supplies before setting off for the rest of the journey in beautiful sunshine. 5 hours later we were all on Brighton Beach sipping champagne not only congratulating the completion of the challenge but also Heidi’s birthday!

Big thanks go out to many people who made this day possible. After officially cancelling the cycle ride, Katy and Thomas were both so determined to do it they made it possible alongside Heidi who, after rallying round friends and colleagues, secured lots of funds. Not only that, she cooked a fantastic meal the night before ensuring enough carbohydrates were on board enabling the riders to be fuelled all day. She filled up lunch packs with bananas, muesli bars, and flapjacks to ensure they had enough to eat along the way.

Thanks also to Harry and Phil for lending Thomas a bike! Jo (Katy’s sister), Izzy (Katy’s niece), Steve (Old Geezer from the Berners) Tanya, Rob, Noeleen and little Erin for being there at the finishing line in support of Katy and Thomas’ efforts.

In addition thank you to everyone who sponsored Thomas and Katy and motivating them to fulfill their challenge. Katy has been so inspired she is already waiting with anticipation for next year’s fundraiser!!

After Harnessing Oddlesofdosh through Pedaling and Exhaustion, the sponsorship is a FANTASTIC £1,408.00. Can we tip over to £1,500? Sponsorship pages are still open and if you would like to show your support and congratulate Thomas and Katy visit….

• http://www.justgiving.com/thomasholdohansen/
• http://www.justgiving.com/hopel2b/

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=7hylqMZ4n_2b27DO655qf5YA_3d_3d

We are proposing to set off from Clapham Common (precise location to be advised shortly) early on the morning of Sunday 12th July and set off in the direction of the A24. We would like to get gathered early to avoid traffic so propose meeting at 8am and aim to get going shortly thereafter, and definitely by 8.30.

If you have ANY additional questions do not hesitate to contact us at trustees@hopeforcambodia.org.uk

Good luck with the training – see you bright and early on 12th July.