Initial Bristol2Beijing Fundraising Goal Achieved 2 Weeks into 12+ Month Expedition

(Keswick, UK - Lake District) 15th January 2020

Today, CanLive founder Luke Grenfell-Shaw announced that the initial Bristol2Beijing fundraising target has been achieved. The initial goal was to raise £23,000, or £1 for every kilometre cycled on his expedition from Bristol, UK to Beijing, China. The funds have been crowdsourced from 494 generous individual donors since the October 2019 launch of the CanLive cause. Exceptionally, the goal has been reached only 15 days into the 12+ month Bristol2Beijing tandem cycling expedition.

As a result of this first round of fundraising, each of the four partner charities (Teenage Cancer Trust, CLIC Sargent, Trekstock, and 5k Your Way--Move Against Cancer) will receive an equal portion of the £23,000 raised, or £5,750 each, plus any additional funds offered from UK donors via the Gift Aid program. Ongoing donations are now collected through Bristol2Beijing’s Virgin Money Giving page which automatically disburses funds equally to each charity at the end of every month.

“It’s so humbling to see so much support so early in my journey!” said Luke. “For me, this is a clear sign that the CanLive idea is really resonating with people. I’m looking forward to all the impact we can continue to have as we spread the CanLive message through the Bristol2Beijing ride and continue to raise funds for these amazing charities who are doing such important work in the UK.” The four UK-based partner charities will remain partners and beneficiaries of fundraising initiatives throughout the expedition.

It is fitting that the final donation to have contributed to achieving the initial fundraising goal came from the Cambridge University Cycling Club, with whom Luke’s late brother John passionately cycled during his undergraduate and graduate years at Cambridge. Luke has dedicated the Bristol2Beijing expedition in his memory. In the few weeks after Luke’s diagnosis and before John’s tragic death, John had begun making plans to join Luke for large portions of the expedition that Luke then dreamed of making. To honour John’s intent to join him, Luke has named the tandem “Chris” in memory of his brother, John Christopher Grenfell-Shaw.

After departing Bristol on 1 January in the company of nearly 100 supporters, Luke has already cycled to the Lake District by way of Wales, covering more than 650 kilometres. Since launching the CanLive movement, Luke has delivered 8 motivational lectures, inspirational visits, and media interviews, primarily at schools and hospitals. In addition, 4 CanLivers and several friends and family have already joined on the back of the tandem for an experience of being a part of Luke’s 23,000+ kilometre trek from Bristol to Beijing.