Leamington Peace Festival Ride

On the Sunday of last weekend's Leamington Peace Festival, nine riders took a break from the temptation of tarot card readers, hopi ear candles and wholewheat veggie burgers and set out from the Buwan Kothi International Trust's tent into the Warwickshire countryside, riding the 25-mile route of the Buwan Kothi Challenge 2009.

Preparations for the ride are now almost complete - with just one month to go, if you haven't registered yet, then you need to do so as soon as possible.

Route Map for Buwan Kothi Challenge 2009

The route map for this year's Buwan Kothi Challenge is now available to download [PDF, 809K].

Easter Sunday Training Ride

Photos from the training ride on Easter Sunday, starting in Leamington Spa and following the shorter 25-mile route option for this summer's Buwan Kothi Challenge, which passes Warwick Castle, crosses over the M40 to Charlecote, Wellesbourne, Lighthorne, passing Chesterton Windmill (see below) and on to Harbury and then to Whitnash.

Training Days

See the following for details of forthcoming cycle training sessions in London and Leamington Spa:

Getting ready for the BKIT Challenge 2009

Now that people have started to return their registration forms for this year's Buwan Kothi Challenge, so it is time to offer some tips on getting prepared.

Set up a Justgiving web page

1. Once you have decided how much you plan to fundraise, this is fairly straightforward. Click on the image below to get started.



Click on 'Create Your Page' and then select your event (there's only one choice!)

Then you simply need to create an account and edit your fundraising page.

2. Stuck for a photo to use on your page? What about one of the Gilly Mundy Memorial Community School's first pupils? You can find this by clicking here.

3. If you need some text for the personal message on your page, then maybe the following will help:

Thank you for visiting my fundraising page. Please dig deep and sponsor me online.

Last year, the Buwan Kothi Challenge involved a cycle ride from Oxford to Leamington Spa. The forty seven riders who took part managed to raise over £15,000 towards construction of the Gilly Mundy Memorial Community School and since 2007, the annual Buwan Kothi Challenge has raised over £35,000. Thanks to the efforts of cyclists, the school opened in March 2008 and is now celebrating the end of its first successful year.

You can find out more by visiting the Buwan Kothi International Trust's website at www.buwankothi.org.uk

This year, we hope to raise more money for the next phase of the project - to build a Community Resource Centre that includes a library, a doctor's surgery and meeting spaces for local people.

How? By completing the 2009 Challenge - a 50-mile route for experienced riders or 25-miles for less confident cyclists, starting and finishing in Leamington Spa in Warwickshire.

Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Buwan Kothi International Trust will receive your money faster and, if you are a UK taxpayer, an extra 28% in tax will be added to your gift at no cost to you.

So please sponsor me now!

Many thanks for your support.

3. Tell your friends - e-mail the link for your page to as many people as possible.

4. Let us know your web page is up so we can help to publicise your efforts.

Speak to friends and colleagues

Not everyone will want to sponsor you on-line, so we have a sponsorship form that you can use.

Download the Sponsorship Form (156KB)

Get training!

The weeks will soon fly by, so you need to get out on your bike and practice. Check this website for details of training sessions or if you are in London, join Cilius Victor's mailing list by dropping us a line.

First Training Ride - Before the Snow

Sukhwant, Jasbir, Cilius and Kevin managed to make it out on a freezing Sunday to ride from Forest Gate to Little Venice (near Paddington) via Islington, a round trip of about 20 miles. Luckily they made it back before London re-entered the ice age...

If you are in London and want to take part in training for this year's Buwan Kothi Challenge, contact Cilius to be added to the mailing list

Announcing... The Buwan Kothi Challenge 2009

The Buwan Kothi Challenge 2009 sponsored cycle ride will take place on

Sunday 19 July

starting and finishing in Leamington Spa. This year there are two distances - 25 miles for inexperienced cyclists and 50 miles for the more ambitious

If you are planning to ride, or to help out on the day as part of the Support Team, we'd really appreciate it if you would register in advance so we have a clearer idea of who will be taking part.

A registration form is available as a download on our website. [Word, 155KB]

Please complete and return it by e-mail or by post to

Buwan Kothi International Trust
PO Box 51077
London E7 7AL