Louisa's first update from her Indian challenge ...

* The charity challenge cyclists in front of the Taj Mahal.

Llanblogger has just received the first update from Llangollen Operatic star Louisa Jones who is currently taking part in a marathon 220-mile charity ride through India.

Louisa, 33, has joined the Action for Charity’s Women V Cancer Cycle Challenge to raise cash for three women’s cancer charities.

She flew out to the sub-continent last Friday and after a short period of acclimatisation has just completed the first day of the gruelling challenge which will take her and around 90 other intrepid women cyclists from across the UK from the city of Agra – home of the iconic Taj Mahal - through the rural state of Rajasthan in north-west India to the capital, Jaipur.

Along the way Lousia and her fellow cyclists will have to contend with pothole-strewn roads and soaring temperatures.

In his first e-mail report from India, Louisa (pictured right) says: “Up at 5 this morning to transfer from Agra to the village where we started.

“We set off at about 9.30am. The scenes as we cycled along were amazing.

“We went through rural communities where people were visibly very poor, living in single room dwellings alongside their animals.

“People gathered by the roadside as we passed by shouting greetings in English and the local language.

“It was a strange feeling...as if we were somehow celebrities. Ninety women on bikes must have made for quite a sight though.

“What struck me was how [happy] people were. Clearly they didn't have much but everyone smiled at you.

“The roads weren't too bad and the terrain was fairly flat. Temp was about 30 today.

“We are at a camp tonight in tents. Currently sitting having a beer and discussing the day with my companions.

“More tomorrow signal permitting.”

Louisa  

To maintain their tight schedule the group, ranging in age from their twenties to sixties, will need to average around 40 miles a day.

The route followed will be far removed from the usual tourist trails and will be both on and off road.

In advance of her trip to the sub-continent Louisa has been raising the cash necessary to guarantee her a place on the ride.

Thanks to strong support from family, friends and work colleagues she managed to burst through the £2,800 qualifying barrier some months ago and pledges are still coming in.

She also plans to made a personal contribution of £500 towards her fundraising total, which will be distributed between Breast Cancer Care, Jo’ Cervical Cancer Trust and Ovarian Cancer Action.

+ To make a contribution towards Louisa’s challenge go to http://www.justgiving.com/louisa-jones2012/eurl.axd/5805f2ef88f5e749aa33e11e94dbaeb7