My name is Oli Broom and along with my filmmaker partners I am seeking a donation from you to help us towards our $1,500 funding target that will enable us to complete an experimental film about my solo cycling expedition, Cycling To The Ashes.

I decided a couple of years ago that a career behind a desk and in front of a screen wasnt for me. I wanted adventure. I wanted to test myself to the limit. I saved up some money while I decided on a plan, and then, having barely cycled beyond the end of my road before, I plumped for a cycle ride to Australia, to watch England regain the Ashes that they so handsomely recaptured in the summer of 2009. I was Cycling To The Ashes, playing and promoting cricket as I went, and trying to raise 100,000 for two worthwhile charities. I didnt have a clue if I could cycle all that way, but I was determined to have a go.

Since the tearful farewell to friends and family at Dover, my home has been the road and my friends have been European turnip farmers, Syrian engineers, Sudanese Arabic teachers and cricketers worldwide. I have cycled 12,000kms through Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, the Indian sub-continent and now South East Asia and along the way I have sought out cricket matches and persuaded those less familiar with the game to grab a bat and have a hit. I have played cricket with school kids in Belgium, with the British Ambassador in Austria, in a 3rd century fort with the Serbian national team in Belgrade and with Iraqi Kurds and Palestinian refugees in Damascus. Ive had hits with Sudanese merchants in the Nubian desert and the British Army in Nairobi. During my nine weeks cycling across India I visited orphanages and sports foundations where I was inspired by the enthusiasm and energy of kids with very little.

I have been humbled on a daily basis for nine months. I have cycled through some of the poorest parts of the world and been welcomed with food and a place to kip time and again. And my journey has been filmed!

In November, while in Budapest having a game of cricket with one of the club teams there, I met an enthusiastic filmmaker called Laszlo Jozsa. He decided to film me leaving the city, and followed me to Serbia. He wanted to cover more of my journey himself, but his imminent wedding and other engagements meant he couldnt. Instead we decided to try to bring together filmmakers on my route to make a different kind of film. We didnt know if it would work, but it has. We have found young and passionate filmmakers in most countries I have pedalled through. Serpil, a Turkish assistant film director in Istanbul, followed me through parts of Turkey and Syria, and Antoreep and Anantha covered parts of my Indian leg. Using the footage they and others have shot, and the material I have captured when alone on the bike, we hope to make an inspirational, aspirational and interesting film about my cricketing and cycling adventure.

The Australian leg of my journey starts in September. I will ride about 4,000 kms across the outback from Darwin to Brisbane. I expect the heat and solitude to combine to make it one of the toughest sections of my journey. Lazslo has put aside 3 months in his diary to film the entire leg, but……..we need your help! So far this film project has been completely self-funded. Lazslo, Serpil and the team have put weeks and months into our dream of making this film. We are seeking $1,500 to help Laszlo get to Australia and film the entire leg from start to finish, and to edit the film after my long ride is over.

We hope the film will sell well enough to help raise even more for my chosen charities and that it will help spread the cricketing gospel far and wide. But more than anything, we hope that our film encourages young and old to get out and seek their own adventure, however big or small. We are inviting you to become a part of our project and join the team! I hope you think its a worthy cause, and I hope you enjoy following the rest of the journey. Ive got 5 months and 8,000 kms to go! Take a look at the rewards we are offering and maybe they will encourage you further to get involved!

Still need persuading? Take a look at my website www.cyclingtotheashes.com, www.filmuntilashes.com where youll find loads of info on my trip, from the short teaser films weve made so far to my thoughts on cycling through 58 degree heat in India and press coverage from around the globe.

Thank you and goodbye from the Thailand / Burma border on my 30th birthday!

Oli, Laszlo, Serpil and the team