In June I am taking part in the Tour Divide mountain bike race which starts in Banff, Canada (on 9th June), and travels the length of the US, finishing at the border of Mexico - a distance of over 4,400km! I'm raising much-needed funds for Free the Bears, a Perth, Australia-based charity founded by Dr Mary Hutton, rescuing bears from the illegal wildlife trade and bear bile farming in Laos, Cambodia & Vietnam. Free the Bears cares for over 270 bears in the sanctuaries, and each bear costs $AU3000 to feed and care for, per year. I'm aiming to raise $AU10,000 from my ride, just over $2 for every km I will be cycling on Tour Divide! This will help Free the Bears rescue and care for more bears. There are still around 220 bears trapped in tiny cages on bile farms in Vietnam - we need to rescue them before it's too late! Free the Bears recently rescued a bear from a bile farm who'd been in a small cage for 22 years - can you imagine? I'm using the freedom of bike travel to raise awareness and funds to help stop this cruel practise. Though I'm choosing to do this race, it won't be easy. I will be riding solo and unsupported, and it's a non-stop race. The route goes through remote and rugged terrain, over passes that may have snow, and through the desert heat in the south. I will be riding as fast as possible but aim to complete 20 days or less - that means cycling over 200km per day on gravel roads and trails, and sleeping very little. Hopefully the wild North American bears will leave me alone while I'm fundraising for their relatives in Asia! ;) Donations of any amount are much appreciated. Thank you for your support for my ride and for the bears!