Garry Dowd

Hi there!

I am excited to let you know that I am about to embark on my biggest cycling challenge yet - cycling across America from West to East.  Starting in Astoria, Oregon I will cycle through 11 States and finish in Portsmouth New Hampshire. This adventure will require over 6,000 km of cycling and will take 50 days to complete. The ride is organised and supported by America by Bicycle - this year 35 full time riders will participate, averaging 130 km per day. Day one for the ride is June 17th. All going well I will complete the ride on August 6th. 

You can follow my progress on the group blog: https://blog.americabybicycle.com/aan?category=2018

I will also add facebook updates from time to time. 

I am using the ride to fundraise for a great cause - Eliminate Maternal and Neonatal Tetanus (MNT) worldwide. This ongoing project is jointly sponsored by UNICEF and Kiwanis, a global service club which aims to make a lasting difference in the lives of children. I am a member of the Waverley Kiwanis Club and have already received great support for my ride from the local members.   

15 Countries are still at risk from MNT, a disease entirely preventable by immunisation. Whilst great progress has been made, a newborn baby dies of tetanus somewhere in the world every 11 minutes of every day (as at 2015). The first 28 days following the birth of a child are known as the neonatal period. Everday, 70 new mothers die during this time.

Eliminate is not only ridding the world of MNT but has important consequential positives for the family units, and in particular for the role and treatment of girls - for more information on Eliminate MNT progress copy and paste the following link 

https://www.scribd.com/document/380860857/Eliminate-MNT-Report-2015

I’d appreciate any contribution you can make towards this cause, big or small. 

Donations made through this platform are secure and will be remitted directly through to my charity of choice.

Thanks so much for your support!

Garry