Cancer-beating mum to bike from Vietnam to Cambodia for girls’ rights  Australian Monique Senior will cycle from Vietnam to Cambodia in eight days in March to raise donations to help poor children 2011 was a rough year for Aussie Monique Senior. She was diagnosed with breast cancer a little before her daughter Harper’s first birthday, and spent the rest of the year getting treatment while trying to maintain some semblance of normality in her life. But today, the 40-year-old mum has beaten breast cancer and is ready for a new challenge – one that she has full control over. In March 2013 Monique will cycle 450 kilometers from Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam to Siem Reap in Cambodia. The route has been carefully mapped out by the Australian fundraising arm of Plan International, a global child-centered development agency. The ride, which will take eight days to complete, will raise funds for Plan Australia’s global campaign for girls’ rights. “I have not done anything like this before,” says Monique. “By signing up to do it I am signing up to a physical challenge that I must be prepared for and that will push me, but it’s also a fundraising challenge that takes a lot of thought and organization and involves my family and friends.” She hopes to raise A$5,000 (US$5,200) for the cause, a goal she believes her new outlook on life since beating breast cancer will help her achieve. “I am more likely to say ‘Yes’ to new things now, to embrace life more, to be more open to change. A terrific, new part of my life is my little girl who was just turning one when I was diagnosed. Life is different because of her being here also.” As Monique was only an occasional cyclist before she took on the Cycle For Girls, she has been building up her rides gradually, hitting the roads come rain or shine, often with Harper joining her for moral support in a trailer attached to the back of the bike. “I try not to be too daunted by unfavorable conditions like wind and heat and get out there in them as part of the preparation. “I do tai chi and this is quite good for leg strength. Choosing to walk or ride instead of driving the car are better options when possible.” Cycle For Girls was a natural fit for Monique, a long-time sponsor of children Plan works with, as it focuses on giving girls, who are more likely to miss out on education than boys, the opportunities they need to reach their full potential. Globally, a third of girls are denied the secondary education that can be the key to breaking the cycle of poverty for them and their families, says Lani Masuku, Plan Australia’s community giving manager. “All too often, girls in developing countries are expected to fulfill the role of wife, mother, and home-maker. This can manifest in the form of child marriage and early pregnancy long before their bodies and minds are fully developed,” she adds. The route along Vietnam’s Mekong Delta into Cambodia will see Monique and her 31 cycling buddies visit villages where Plan works directly with children and their families. “I’m excited,” says Monique. “I have not been to Vietnam or Cambodia before and will enjoy traveling through them on the bike, learning about the places and meeting the people.” To learn more and sponsor Monique, visit www.quinty.me or head over to www.fundraise.plan.org.au for an overview of Cycle For Girls and find out how you can take part. ThanhnienNews