With China's borders closed, Bristol2Beijing expedition enters final stage
On 16 April, Luke Grenfell-Shaw (2018-2019 MSc in Water Science, Policy and Management student with Worcester College) and his pink-and-blue tandem bicycle named "Chris" arrived in the far northeast corner of India. With China still completely closed to foreigners, Luke was unable to make further progress in his expedition to Beijing. Forever determined to make the best of any situation, Luke and Chris have returned to London to cycle the remaining 3,300 kilometres on a stationary turbo in prominent locations around central London. Luke will conclude the ride in Bristol, completing his journey where he began.
Incredibly, despite cycling during a global pandemic, Luke managed to keep moving east, travelling through 29 countries in total. The Chinese border was the first he has been unable to cross. "Being unable to reach Beijing is deeply disappointing. It has been my dream for the last three years. But I am so proud of everything we have achieved despite the pandemic. I will keep living life to the full - despite cancer, covid, and closed borders!" Read more about Luke's reflections on the end of the road on the Bristol2Beijing blog.
Luke and Chris have traversed virtually every kind of landscape and weather - braving -15°C and +50°C, mountain passes and treacherous roads - and pedalled a cumulative total of 26,700 km to this point with more than 300 people having provided pedal power on the stoker seat, 20 of whom are CanLivers.
Bristol2Beijing has a fundraising target of £300,000 for cancer-related charities. This final leg of the expedition supports the four expedition partner charities - 5kYour Way, Young Lives vs. Cancer, Trekstock, and Teenage Cancer Trust.
"I am super excited for the final 3,300 km I'll be cycling in central London," Luke said. "It's the perfect way to involve as many people as possible and to spread the message of living your dreams, no matter your relationship with cancer. I'm really looking forward to involving all of the UK in my ride and to raising as much money as possible for our wonderful charities. This is an amazing way to finish the ride!"
Since the 19th of May, Luke has been pedalling the tandem on a stationary turbo from various locations around central London aiming to cycle the remaining 3,300 km that he had planned to cycle from the Chinese border to Beijing.
Luke's expedition will conclude in Bristol on Sunday, 19th of June on the 4 year anniversary of Luke's cancer diagnosis.
On Saturday 18 June, Luke will be meeting Oxford friends and faculty at the Radcliffe Camera at 10am before he heads off on the penultimate day of his expedition. He'll depart at 10:15 (or thereabouts), accompanied by members of the Oxford University Cycling Club and the Oxford Triathletes Club.
For more information please see: https://www.bristol2beijing.org/london.
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Despite being unable to enter China, Luke Grenfell-Shaw (2018-2019 MSc WSPM) has been completing the remaining mileage in London and aims to pass through Oxford on the 18 June on his the way to finishing in Bristol. Luke's expedition aims to raise £300,000 for cancer-related charities.
