Devon women cycles 250 miles for Shelterbox

Serial fundraiser pedals on

An 18-year-old from Devon is cycling from London to Paris in aid of ShelterBox. 

Emily Read is a serial fundraiser and started generating cash for the crisis charity when she was just 8 years old. She has already raised an impressive £12,000 and is hoping to bring her total to £15,000.

Over the years, she's completed numerous challenges, including a 200 km paddleboard challenge and abseiling down the Spinnaker Tower in Portsmouth, which is 560 ft. 

She set off on her 250-mile journey on Saturday and hopes to arrive on Thursday (May 14). Her dad will be travelling alongside, who was part of her very first charity bike ride. 

Emily first came across Shelterbox during a visit to the Devon County Show. She said, "They made me feel like I could actually make a difference even though I was only little." Over the years, I've become more invested, gaining a deeper understanding of the impact of their work and how special it is to have a disaster relief charity which is so culturally sensitive. 

No matter how small my contribution has been, I have always felt that Shelterbox truly value any support given to them, cycling all the way to Paris.
Emily is planning to train as a nurse with a view to doing disaster relief work in the future.

She says, "I was only six years old when a typhoon struck the Philippines in 2013 and wanted to help. With the support from my family, I did some small fundraising events, which developed my interest in humanitarian aid and belief that I could make a difference, whatever my age." 

Shelterbox responds to crises all over the world, including those displaced in Lebanon.

You can support Emily's latest challenge by clicking here.