Biking for Charity

As a member of our congregation Yvonne Trueman is well known for her work for charity—the mainspring of her life. During 2006 Yvonne raised 2,000 pounds sterling for the Belize orphanage which she has supported for many years, a project which the Cathedral’s 2006 Christingle service also supported with a donation of BD350, an outreach which Yvonne acknowledges with gratitude.

Yvonne has lived in Bahrain since 1978 and is a keen fund-raiser for local, and international charities. Her interests include the charity Dreamflight which organizes once-in-a-lifetime holidays for sick Bahraini children. Reports and photos of some of these can be seen on the notice board in the Cathedral Coffee Room.

Yvonne has competed in both the London and New York marathons but this time is changing to a cycling ‘adventure’. In March she is taking part in the Jordan Desert Challenge, raising funds to help sick and disadvantaged children. This is being organized by a UK group, Action for Charity, and the funds raised will go to five UK children’s charities. This expedition is a five-day 300km cycle ride through the Jordan Valley. Being well aware of the physical effort involved in this very rugged project, Yvonne is (in her own words) “…..currently heavily into training. I cycle 10km each morning at 5.00am and longer sessions around Awali at the weekend. In between this I do spinning sessions three times a week, the gym for strength training and 3km runs when there is a moment. It’s great fun and a great challenge, I just hope that my body does not cave in! but it is for charity.”

It should be noted that Yvonne was last year awarded the MBE (a Member of the Order of the British Empire) by Queen Elizabeth for her extensive charity work both in Bahrain and internationally. A well deserved award.