Ride from Poverty - Everesting the Kenyan Rift Valley

Matthew Wearne has launched 'Ride from Poverty' and is now tackling an Everest attempt in Kenya's Rift Valley to raise awareness for the work performed by The One Heart Foundation.

We spoke to Matthew about his challenge.

Tell us about what you'll be doing in Kenya?

I will be staying in Iten for my first week in Kenya at the High Altitude Training camp where I'm participating in an event called Run from Poverty. On the 26th of July I will be running a marathon in Kenya, for the One Heart Foundation.

I’m a cyclist so I had to take my bike to Kenya. As part of my fundraising effort for the marathon, I launched 'Ride from Poverty'. I want to make the Melbourne riding community aware of what the One Heart Foundation is doing.

For the Ride from Poverty, I’m attempting an “Everest” on the only good sealed road around Iten, Kenya on the 28-29th July. The base of the climb is at just over 1,200m and rises up to almost 2,000m in a little under 10km at an average gradient of 7% as it makes it's way through the awesome Rift Valley.

12 repeats of the climb should do it! I’ve put the word out in Kenya and already have a few confirmed to join me, so hopefully it will gain a little attention over there.

What does One Heart do?

One Heart is changing the lives of orphaned and abandon children living in Kenya, I’ve raised over 10k to help build a school. As part of my fundraising effort I launched “Ride from Poverty” with the idea to challenge cyclists to add a cause to their epic cycling adventures. After I run my marathon I plan to do my own epic on the bike!  

Why you are you raising awareness for One Heart?

I’ve been following and giving to One Heart for many years now, I also sponsor a child in one of the children’s homes, so to see it all in real life will be an amazing experience. It’s not going to be a holiday in Kenya, I predict it to be an emotional roller coaster, and a very challenging time both mentally and physically.

What's your fundraising goal?

$10,000 with a push goal for $15,000 to build a school in the One Heart Children’s Village, the first stage of the school is already open!

You can donate to Matthew at www.ridefrompoverty.cc or www.oneheartchallenge.org/run-from-poverty-sponsorship-form

We wish Matthew good luck and will be reporting in with photos after he gets back from Kenya!