For Nedlands resident Jessica Stokes, life’s lottery has meant she has not had to worry about basic human rights like where ti get clean water or whether she would be able to finish school.
But the chance to help those who are constantly faced with these worries was too much for Ms Stokes to pass up.
She and her friends Linh Nguyen and Wendy Wisniewski have joined a 20-person Australian team cycling from Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam to Siem Reap Cambodia to raise money for UN Women programs.
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READ NOWMs Nguyen said it was a cause close to her heart.
“It could have been me,” she said.
“I could have grown up in Vietnam with no equal opportunity afforded to me to finish primary school, high school or university.
“I am very lucky my parents fled the aftermath of the Vietnam War as refugees.
“I attended Wilson Primary School. I enrolled myself in a specialist science stream at Como Secondary College. I attended University of Western Australia to attain a double degree.
“I want others to have the opportunities I have been so fortunate to receive.”
The UN Women Ride for Rights is on until March 23.