Fundraiser!

A big part of this adventure challenge is the fundraising for CARE. It's an amazing cause - helping people fight poverty in Vietnam and around the world in the more than 80 countries where CARE works. But how am I going to raise $3500? 

Well, for this big an amount it does take a bit of strategy and a lot of brainstorming. Luckily for me, part of my job is to help people hold fundraisers - and CARE is full of ideas for their participants - but I also have many great colleagues and friends to help rattle ideas off with.

Caroline and Christina have been incredible with helping me with  ideas and execution so far...but I don't want to give away too much yet so I'll just tell you what I have planned for next week.

That's right! My friend and Glebe-ite Delaney will be lending me his front lawn area to hold a garage sale as part of the annual Great Glebe Garage Sale! But not just any garage sale -- because you know me -- it's a bake and garage sale!*

*please note there will not be any garages for sale. And I don't have most of the items in that picture either so please don't come expecting to buy my golf clubs.

It takes place, rain or shine, on Saturday, May 28th. All proceeds will be going to my fundraiser - so comon' out and buy an item or some baked goodies! Get in touch and I'll let you know where I'll be located (I don't want to give away poor Delaney's address on the whole world wide web!). Caroline will be helping me out as well as baking some of her famous goodies for the sale too - so you know it's going to be great!

Can't make it? Maybe you've got some small items to donate to my sale? I can take anything that will fit in my little Mazda 3 (read: no couches or coffee tables). Please leave a comment or get in touch with me on Facebook if you've got items you'd like to donate to my sale. It's a great way to get ride of one's person's junk (which is another person's treasure!), do some spring cleaning and support a great cause all at the same time!

As a treat - some tips in case you're thinking of navigating The Great Glebe Garage Sale:

From: 

http://davidscrimshaw.blogspot.com/2008/05/garage-sale-my-schema.html

The Big Travel Announcement!

So in case you haven't heard yet -- in four months I'm going to Vietnam!

Not only am I going to Vietnam, I'm going to cycle across it -- and all in the name of CARE Canada!

That's right - along with a team of Canadians I'll be cycling from Ho Chi Minh City in the South to Hanoi in the North from September 18th - 30th.

I'll be raising $3500 for CARE Canada's programming in more than 80 countries around the world where CARE works to help defend dignity and fight poverty. CARE places a special focus Before we begin our adventure we'll be visiting CARE projects near the border of Cambodia to have a first hand look at CARE's work and the types of people we're helping. To see more about what CARE does specifically in Vietnam check this out.

Those who know me well may say - really? Laura is going to bike across a foreign country? That doesn't sound like anything she's ever done before! -- and you'd be correct! But that's part of what makes this even more exciting - practically every aspect will be a new experience for me!

• I've never travelled with a group of strangers before (though I am getting to know a bunch of them before we go through these lovely things we call social media!)
• I've never travelled this far away, or across this many time zones! (Any tips on jet lag please send 'em my way!)
• I've never biked or done any athletic thing to this extent (hey comon' - doing a 30-day hot yoga challenge has got to count for something though right?)
• I've never been somewhere that didn't speak predominently English or French (I'm practicing my Vietnamese as we speak)
• I've never been away from home/family/my dog for more than a week! (Though I'm sure Theo and Maya will appreciate the break ;) )

Suffice it to say - this will be very exciting. If you'd like to take part in this journey with me - there's still space -but not a lot of time! Deadlines are fast approaching!

So, stay tuned as I update you on my training, my fundraising events and goal, and other news as I count down the days to this great adventure!