All the motivation you need

As mentioned in my last post, I attended my first Action for Charity meeting last weekend at St Thomas's Hospital in London.  It was humbling to hear from women who were not only challenging themselves to complete this cycle, but were also fighting cancer themselves.

We had presentations from all 3 charities that the Women v Cancer organisation supports -

http://www.breastcancercare.org.uk

http://www.jostrust.org.uk

http://www.ovarian.org.uk

which were very moving and inspiring.  You could've heard a pin drop in the room so I am sure that everyone there felt the same.

Anne Frampton from Women v Cancer presenting at the first Cycle Cuba meeting.  Since it began 3 years ago, Women v Cancer has raised over £2.3 million for women's cancer charities

Anne Frampton, the event organiser, did a great job of getting us all excited about the challenge we have all signed up for as well as reminding us of the great causes we are supporting in doing this.  She also introduced us to Theo Peeters from Dream Challenges who will be looking after us in Cuba.  They have pulled together an itinerary for us which looks amazing but a little daunting at the same time:

Day 1 - fly from London to Havanna

Day 2 - Jibacoa Beach to Matanzas - 5 hours cycling on a mixture of tarmac and compacted earth roads taking in coastal and inland scenery.  One 800m hill to negotiate - 43.5 miles

Day 3 - Matanzas to the Peninsula of Zapata - 5-6 hours cycling on tarmac roads through what was prime sugar can land - 52.8 miles

Day 4 - Cienfuegos to Trinindad - 6-7 hours cycling on undulating country roads - 59.7 miles (the toughest day!)

Day 5 - Trinidad to Sancti Spiritus - 6 hours cycling through a scenic valley with sugar mills and tobacco fields - 47.8 miles

Day 6 - Sancti Spiritus to Santa Clara - 6-7 hours cycling on undulating roads through villages and small towns, finishing at the Che Guevara Mausoleum, one of Cuba's most important revolutionary monuments - 51 miles

Day 7 - Santa Clara to Havana ...... on the bus!!

Total miles cycled - 254.8 (400km)