Adventurer of the Month – Jenny Watson

So many factors led me to taking on my first Inspired Adventure with UN Women but the key inspiration is my mum. Over 35 years ago, she left Vietnam along with her family in search for a better life. It takes a lot of bravery to do what they did, not knowing where they’d end up, facing dangers I can’t begin to comprehend. We are so lucky to have our family all here in Australia, but so many are not so lucky. I’m inspired to help those who stayed, who are a part of the country’s story and culture and, where I can, I’d like help their communities grow and increase their quality of life. This adventure will be nothing like her journey, I know I’ll be safe, happy and well fed, but this ride is in homage to mum’s story.

Last year I made a resolution to give back more. I looked up volunteering programs overseas because the idea of seeing the world while helping a community grow really appealed to me. UN Women is a great cause and one of the best things about this adventure is the bang for buck. For 12 days of our time, we’ve contributed over $100,000 to projects in Vietnam and Cambodia. Our funds go directly to projects that empower women in Vietnam and Cambodia. We’ve been getting project updates from UN Women and can see our funds already making a difference.

I feel like that this adventure has purpose, riding for a cause, travelling to a foreign country, camaraderie with the team … we could be just raising the funds. But there is something more engaging – more personal – by combining both the travel and contributing to a truly worthy cause. I’m so excited about visiting the project sites, meeting those making a difference directly to their communities and travelling with like-minded people.

So far I’ve raised just over $6,000, about half of this was raised through fundraising events and the other half from donations from my network of family, friends and colleagues. I organised a high tea in October at the Burbury Hotel here in Canberra where we raised $1,500. It required a lot of work in the background, but I had so much support from the loves in my life and local businesses as well.

Definitely the highlight is seeing donations come through from people you don’t expect. People who I met years back and hardly see, uni student friends and family, people who I have just met … seeing their names give me the biggest smile. It is a nice feeling to know that other people believe in the cause and that your support network is wider than you think.

Become our Adventurer of the Month to win a $100 Paddy Pallin voucher

Take a picture whilst on your adventure or when you’re training and use the hashtag #IveBeenInspired and your adventure hashtag. The most exciting use of the hashtag, with an adventure, and fitness focus will be our Adventurer of the Month – it’s that easy!