(Chișinău, Moldova) 17th November 2020

Today, CanLive founder Luke Grenfell-Shaw and his pink-and-blue tandem bicycle named Chris ride out of the capital city of Moldova, closing the second leg of the Bristol2Beijing expedition and beginning the third.

Since crossing the English Channel on the 14th of February, 2020, Luke’s expedition through Europe has brought him to an additional 15 countries (France, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria, Slovakia, Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, Kosovo, Romania, and Moldova). The 5,200 kilometre trek across Europe was complicated by COVID-19, associated border closures, and a pause of five months. With safety prioritised, Luke was also pleased to have had 35 joiners on the tandem that helped him pedal his way up hills, down river valleys, around mountains, and through bustling cities. The grand total for the expedition is now 7,100 kilometres cycled and 44 joiners!

Along the way, Luke and the Bristol2Beijing team are proud to have raised more than £2,000 for World Child Cancer, Bristol2Beijing’s regional partner charity during Leg 2 of the expedition. World Child Cancer is an established leader in creating a world where every child with cancer has equal access to the best treatment and care. The charity works to do this by supporting vulnerable children through cancer treatment, providing key training to healthcare workers, and raising awareness of childhood cancer in low-and middle-income countries – where survival rates can be as low as 10%. Specifically, contributions to Bristol2Beijing during the Europe Tour supported a World Child Cancer partnership that is providing training and education of healthcare professionals that are supporting children with cancer in Kosovo. Luke was thrilled to be invited to visit the facility last month (see blog).

“We are so grateful for the financial support and visibility that Bristol2Beijing has offered to World Child Cancer NL and our local partnership, Care for Kosovo Kids,” said Prof. Gertjan Kaspers, chair of World Child Cancer NL. “These funds will help us in sharing our knowledge with our colleagues in Kosovo, and improve chances for children with cancer, where our local partners were so pleased to host Luke for a visit in October. It meant so much to the children to see his example. We are proud to be partnered with Bristol2Beijing and look forward to many more opportunities to cheer him on as he pedals on to Beijing.”

After a busy first few days in Chișinău, Luke is back on the tandem and excited about Leg 3 of the expedition. “This year has presented so many challenges and uncertainties. At times, I wasn’t sure that I would be able to continue the ride. I am so grateful for the outpouring of generosity from people all along the way -- not only to support me but also to support our charity partners and their important work. It continually restores my hope and resolve. Thank you ever so much!” Earlier this month, Bristol2Beijing announced that its community had successfully raised more than £10,000 for each of the four expedition partner charities that have been with Luke since the beginning.

From Chișinău to Bukhara, Bristol2Beijing is thrilled to be partnered with another wonderful charity, ChildAid to Eastern Europe. The organisation works with local partners in Belarus, Moldova, Siberia and Ukraine to create life changing hope and opportunities for children living with disabilities, orphans, those living in vulnerable families and those living with the consequences of conflict. One fifth of funds raised during Leg 3 of the expedition will be dedicated to ChildAid to Eastern Europe. Specifically, this portion of funds will support one project in Moldova and one in Ukraine.

In Moldova, the Tony Hawks Centre is a free-to-access multi-disciplinary rehabilitation centre for children living with disabilities. The Centre provides medical, educational and social care for chronically ill children from socially vulnerable families. 50% of any funds raised for ChildAid will go towards the provision of free-to-access individual medical evaluation, assessment and establishment of a multi-disciplinary rehabilitation programme (including physio, speech, music and basic occupational therapy, hydro-therapy, massage, and sensory development). £1,000 will provide over 300 therapy sessions.

In Ukraine, ChildAid is opening a new multidisciplinary care programme in Maakariv, 60 kilometres west of Kiev. No facilities for rehabilitation services and social support currently exist in the area. ChildAid’s Little Lighthouse programme will be free-to-access for vulnerable and disadvantaged children and their parents to attend. This centre will eventually be replaced by a new, much larger children’s and community centre which will be developed on two hectares of land ChildAid have purchased on the outskirts of Makariv. 50% of any funds raised for ChildAid will go to provide essential rehabilitation equipment (couches, step platforms, walkers, etc.) to support the trained therapists in their work to relieve the pain and suffering of disability.

“ChildAid is honoured to be partnering with Luke and Bristol2Beijing,” said Martin Wilcox, Director, ChildAid to Eastern Europe. “Luke has such a positive outlook on life and his illness has driven him onto overcoming immense difficulties and embracing the opportunities and hope life can bring. This is also at the core of what ChildAid believes and does for all the 2,500 children and young people we serve. At the Tony Hawks Centre in Chișinău, Moldova and the Little Lighthouse in Makariv, Ukraine we are giving new life, new hope, and new opportunities for children living with disabilities. What Luke is doing is incredible and we salute him all the way.”

Leg 3 of the expedition promises to present many new challenges, navigating borders, geopolitics, and winter. But the road ahead offers many more opportunities to experience new cultures and landscapes and the richness of continuing to work towards achieving a dream. Whenever possible, Luke will continue to share stories from his adventure with his growing community of Bristol2Beijing supporters. Luke’s Facing Up podcast began its second season in August and has since published 10 episodes with several extraordinary people, including city and national government leaders, explorers, athletes and more.

“There are so many highlights from Leg 2 of the expedition,” Luke added. “Thousands of kilometres, fifteen countries, a supportive online community with Bristol2Beijing at Home, and countless moments that paint a beautiful picture: a wonderful world worth exploring with the one life we’re given.”