If your view of the WI is as out as date as mine was, then you'll be quite surprised to hear that thirty four WI members will be cycling 328km around Cuba to raise vital funds to support new building work at Denman College, the National Federation of Women's Institutes (NFWI) adult education college in Oxfordshire.
The five day cycle challenge is the brainchild of NFWI trustee, Liz Eaton. Liz has taken part in other charity challenges and from these had the motivation to organise one for the WI. Liz said; “The WI has given me so many wonderful opportunities, I want to give something back.” She goes on to say " The Cycle Cuba challenge is another way members can get up, get out and get involved”. The women have even inspired a man to take part in the cycling challenge.” Liz alone has raised over £3000 for the project so far.
The volunteers, aged between twenty-six and sixty-nine have spent the last eighteen months encouraging each other with their fitness regimes. One member, Jean Burgess, who is also taking part, said; “The build-up has been life-changing. I have lost three dress sizes and given up smoking”.
When the members finish the five day challenge that begins at the Bay of Pigs and will take them through the cities of Havana and Trinidad, the Escambray mountains and Caribbean coastline, they will be greeted at the finishing line by a local Cuban band.
The WI is an active, campaigning organisation with 215,000 members and is the largest women's organisation in the UK with 7,000 WIs. The charity campaigns on issues that matter to women and their communities from children's diets and human trafficking to healthy eating and the environment. The WI offers women the opportunity to make new friends, learn new skills and campaign on wide-ranging issues.
Visit www.womens-institute.org.uk for more information.
