Only 7 places left for Vietnam Cycle A Difference trip

If you fancy a cycle ride that really makes a difference, and doing it side by side with a legendary cyclist, then you'll need to act fast to get on board with Cycle A Difference in May 2013, a charity ride supported by many big names in the bike industry which aims to raise money for the Newborns Vietnam charity.

Mike Hall, who broke the world record for cycling round the world in June this year, taking in 18,000 miles through 20 countries and four continents in 92 days, will be riding in support of the charity again.

The route takes you from Hanoi in the North to Da Nang - where you will get to meet some of those who will benefit from your efforts – before finally finishing off in the nearby port of Hoi a World Heritage site. Along the way you'll get to ride through the Northern Highlands, along the Ho Chi Minh trail, the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park another UNESCO World Heritage Site, to the ancient capital of Hue,  and over the Hai Van pass - the highest mountain pass in Vietnam (check out the Cycle a Difference flickr gallery to get a flavour of the route).

It's not a walk in the park at 850 miles in 10 days of riding, but reasonably fit cyclists should be fine. A deposit of £500 and a pledge to raise £3000 in funding will secure you a place for the ride of your life.

Mike's very persuasive in his support of the cause. He said: "As an endurance rider, cycling for me is all about finding new challenges and expanding my horizons.

"I wasn't aware 10,000 babies die everyday worldwide in developing countries mainly from easily preventable causes. I was talking to a friend just the other day whose son was kept on the neonatal ward in Birmingham for a few days before going home, it was no drama for them but in another country, like Vietnam, it could have been the difference between life and death.

"The direct work that Newborns Vietnam is doing is going to give more babies a chance to survive, their approach is all about making long-term lasting change and for newborns this all about training for nurses. The combination of the sport I love, a great cause and at the end of the ride seeing first hand what my sponsorship will support ticks all the boxes for me."

Cycle a Difference is run by unpaid volunteers, meaning that all the money you raise aside from the costs of the trip go direct to the charity - organisers say that should be as much as £2,600 per person - so you really will cycle a difference.

Here's the link for more information about Cycle A Difference in Vietnam.