Hi, I’m Poppy Speller and I’m 16 years old and currently doing my A levels. I’m studying Sociology, Psychology and Health and social care and I’m really enjoying it. I’m very grateful that you have given me this opportunity to tell you about my trip to Kenya in 2021. 

 

As part of an organised group working with our school called Camps International I'm hoping to go to Kenya next year to help with work in the community. Our group will be responsible for helping in community projects such as building new water supplies, village buildings and helping with educating children. It's costing £4k and my aim is to fund raise the full amount to go on this amazing trip. I am doing a number of different activities to help raise the money for example I am baking cakes for family and friends and they make a contribution to my trip. This is a fun and easy way for me to fundraise some of the money as I love to bake and cook. I also love to decorate the cake as I can use my own ideas to make the cake look as good as possible. 

 

My most challenging fundraising idea is that I am cycling from John O’ Groats to Lands End which is from one end of the country to the other. I am doing this virtually on my exercise bike which I have at home and I am regularly checking up on where I am on the map. This helps me to feel more motivated and helps me visualise how far I have gone. So far I have cycled 1000km meaning I’m 2/3 of the way there as the total distance is 1513 km. I know it's a massive challenge but I'm enjoying doing it. It definitely gave me something to focus on during the months we were not at school. 

 

I am planning to keep doing all of my fundraising ideas over the next year until I go to Kenya. I do my cycling as many times a week as possible when I get back from college and I do it in 10k slots. I thought that cycling virtually from one end of the country to the other was a very good idea not only because of COVID restrictions ( meaning a lot of the traditional ways to raise money were not an option) but because I knew it was going to be a challenge for me to achieve. I knew it was going to be difficult to stay motivated to do it but it has got easier as I have got better and my stamina has improved over the months. 

 

I am looking forward to my trip so much in 2021 and I’m very grateful for Mowatt Financial Planning's donation and support. 

 

Thank you for reading, Poppy

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Read more about Poppy's fundraising.