As a major sponsor of Erin Truscott’s epic 800k bike ride in eight days, Easy Living Home Elevators is proud to announce that Erin has achieved a fundraising total of $12,927 – and with just over a week until her ride, she continues to exceed her target goal!

“When I signed up for this ride, I never could have imagined the amount of support would be as amazing as it has been. I have smashed my $10,000 target and am edging towards $15,000. It’s an amazing feeling,” wrote Erin in an email update this week.

Erin is riding down the Mekong River in north-east Thailand on the Laos border in support of Hands Across the Water Australia – a boutique charity established in response to the devastating tsunami that swept across the Thai coast on Boxing Day 2004.

The organisation was originally established to provide support to the children who were orphaned in the Thai community of Kao Lak in the form of an orphanage, which was completed in 2006 – offering opportunities for education and empowering them for a brighter future.

Since its inception, more than $2 million has been raised in support of Hands Across the Water, with every penny going to support the charitable cause. It has since expanded to support a number of other Thai initiatives, including the endorsement of the Suthasinee Noiin Foundation in 2010 for children who have been affected by AIDS.