Sponsored cycle ride from Hanoi to Saigon
29 April 2004

In April 2004, Neal Verga and Chris Panes cycled from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh, a distance of 1,760 kilometres (or 1,100 miles), down Highway No 1.

Why, you may ask? We don't know, just because it is there to be done - and no, it is not because we are having a mid-life crisis or have a need to find ourselves.

However, we do realise that in undertaking such a trip, it is a great opportunity to raise money for charity. Given that Vietnam will be our host for three weeks, we would like to give something back to the country. We have therefore elected to raise money for two local charities. As 50% of Vietnam's population is under 21, we are focusing on helping children.

1. Saigon Children's Charity - based in Ho Chi Minh City, the charity works with very poor children and the deaf. They have a vocational training school for street children in District 4 of HCMC for which they urgently require funds to provide better facilities. Basically, it costs approximately US$ 100 to provide training for one child for one year.
2. Tam Binh Centre - this is a facility run by the Labour and Social Welfare Service of Ho Chi Minh People's Committee that cares for HIV infected children often orphans, or abandoned by their parents. Currently there are 67 children at the centre from newly born to aged 8.

We hope you agree with us that these are worthwhile causes and that you will donate money to us. If you are able to do so, please email either of us and let us know how much you are willing to donate. We are aiming to raise US$ 30,000. There are three easy ways you can pay either of us:

1. Mail a cheque to either of us, payable to either Neal Verga or Chris Panes. Our addresses are:

•    Neal Verga, 121 Kenilworth Avenue, London, SW19 7LP
•    Chris Panes, 40 Petain Road, Singapore 208104

2. By direct debit into either of the following bank accounts:

3. If you have a PayPal account to make payments by credit card over the internet, you can make payment directly to Chris Panes. It is easy to set up a PayPal account, just visit www.paypal.com and follow the simple instructions.

Please let either of us know how much you are able to donate.

Many thanks in anticipation.

Neal and Chris

Two fit and eager young men about to embark on a marathon bicycle ride
Blimey! Cycling for 400 km before reaching this, the first milestone for Ho Chi Minh City	Keep up the fluid levels chaps and let's have a little 'bonding' session while we're at it.
Hoi An and time for a day off to enjoy something of the country we're cycling through	Siesta time and Neal has quickly learnt the art of grabbing a few zzzs wherever he can
Chris tests out a local bicycle but decides he cannot do without his gel saddle and 164 gears	Penultimate day, just a couple of hundred clicks to go… easy!
And they've done it! Fantastic work guys. Arrival at the Sofitel Plaza Saigon just 18 days after setting out, what a superb achievement	And this is what it was all for. Neal talks to a student at Thang Long School in District 4, one of the projects that will benefit from the money they raised.
Chris talks to two Thang Long students in English. Hopefully we can help these two boys to find decent paid work using the English they are learning at the school.	And at a final thank you dinner Saigon Children's Charity decorates our two tanned heroes with Cyclo Challenge caps and honorary medals.