Some of us are only just off stabilisers but we are going to cycle across Vietnam for NSPCC - can you help?

The six riders all work for Clarion Housing Group, the UK’s largest housing association, and are based in Manchester. Earlier this year, the social landlord launched a three-year fundraising partnership with the NSPCC and aims to raise £100,000 in the first year to support children across the UK. Leoni Liebert, Oliver Walker, William Hunt, Oliver Meagher, James Howard and Richard Bell need to raise £15,000 by taking on the 450km ride from Saigon, through Cambodia to Angkor Wat in February.

Leoni, who works as an Assistant Project Manager for Clarion, said the team were committed to raising as much as possible for the children’s charity. She said: “The NSPCC visited our office and told us about all the great work they do with young people and families here in Greater Manchester and across the North West, and that inspired us – maybe naively – to sign up for this cycle challenge.

“None of us has any long-distance cycling experience – and some of us are only recently off stabilisers! – but we’re going to be training throughout the winter to ensure we’re ready for the challenge in February. We’ve already raised more than £3,000, but need to raise another £7,000 before December 5 to ensure we’re on track to take part so if anyone can help us, we’d be hugely grateful.”

The challenge takes place in February and will see the team ride up to 80km per day over seven days – some featuring over seven hours of non-stop pedalling – whilst tackling the hot and humid conditions of South East Asia.

Grace Dench, NSPCC Corporate Fundraiser, said: “We are so pleased that Leoni and the team from Clarion have committed to this challenge, and dearly hope they can reach their fundraising target with a little help from friends, family and the business community across Manchester.

“Clarion’s support for the work of the NSPCC has already been incredible since the partnership was launched with a dragon boat race for Childhood Day, and I know their teams are also doing wonderful fundraising work in offices across the country. If anyone can sponsor Leoni and her team, their help would be hugely welcome.”

To sponsor the Clarion team, click here or go to www.justgiving.com/page/clarioncycleteam