Kiwi sisters tackle 700km Vietnamese cycling challenge to raise funds for local children

Motivation to peddle the gruelling 700 kilometre cycling trek the length of Vietnam is never far from mind as two New Zealand sisters, Sally Hewlett and Kim McVinnie, raise funds and awareness for ChildFund’s Vietnam Appeal. They’re putting that money where it’s needed most - the mouths of hungry children.

Their endeavours are being supported by respected Kiwis, such as former Olympic Rower Rob Hamill and actress Danielle Cormack, and other well-known mums and dads are also getting behind the Appeal.

Aucklander Sally is ChildFund New Zealand’s Asia Programmes Coordinator. Sally monitors the international development agency’s projects in Vietnam, experiencing for herself the dire situation faced by communities in the mountainous regions of Northern Vietnam where up to 60% of children face serious developmental issues, even death, from malnutrition.

“I decided the best way to get to know the country and understand its challenges, was to get on my bike and get amongst it.  My big sister decided she needed shake things up a bit and join me, probably also to make sure I didn’t do anything reckless.”

Sally’s sister, Kim leaves behind two children, husband and job in the small Waikato town of Te Pahu as she takes up the challenge.

“I’ve never done anything like this before, so it’s definitely taking me out of my comfort zone,” said Kim, who has been training “like a demon” for the 12 day journey where they will ride up to 80kms per day.

Intrepid traveller Sally is incredibly proud of her sister but fears it is she who is letting the side down as her immersion in the Vietnamese communities prior to the cycle means she’s done ‘zero’ training - “I’m using the children I’ve met as mental motivation, rather than physical preparation.  It’s just a bike ride, after all, right?”

Fuelling the pair on is the daily dose of nutritious ‘sprinkles’, comprised of essential nutrients that ChildFund is fundraising for, to help hundreds of children in need in these remote communities.  Funds raised from the Vietnam Appeal will enable ChildFund to get a daily tablespoon of these nutrients into each child in the communities it assists, so that their growth rates can improve, and the devastating side-effects of malnutrition can be reduced.

The sprinkles are just one solution ChildFund is introducing to help reduce malnutrition amongst these children.  Supplies of fresh milk, nutritionally-fortified biscuits, iron and folic acid supplements, as well as nutrition training offered to struggling families to better the health of their children.

“We thought we may as well prove how nutritious these sprinkles can be as we work through our journey. So we’re powering up on them ourselves!  Let’s just say that at this stage they’re more nutritious than delicious,” Sally quipped.

As ChildFund’s Vietnam Appeal gets underway, it is attracting additional support locally from well- known Kiwi mums and dads who appreciate the difficulties of getting nutritious food into their children on a regular basis. Rawdon Christie, Jeremy Corbett  and Hilary Barry are just some of the parents who’ve added to the cause by posting their top tips for getting good food into reluctant mouths, from their own families’ experiences at family mealtimes.

Tips from these supportive faces can be viewed alongside information and donation details at http://www.childfund.org.nz

Follow Sally and Kim’s experiences on their blog www.vietnamcycleforkids.blogspot.co.nz

• A NZ$56 donation will provide a year’s supply of a fortified nutrient mix for one child.

About ChildFund New Zealand

ChildFund New Zealand is a member of the ChildFund Alliance, an international child development organisation with more than 70 years of experience helping the world's neediest children, which works in more than 50 countries, assisting 16 million children and family members regardless of race, beliefs or gender.

ChildFund New Zealand works for the well-being of children by supporting locally led initiatives that strengthen families and communities, helping them overcome poverty and protect the rights of their children.

ChildFund's comprehensive programmes incorporate health, education, nutrition and livelihood interventions that sustainably protect, nurture and develop children. ChildFund works in any environment where poverty, conflict and disaster threaten the well-being of children.