09
Feb
Harrogate man to cycle from home to the Himalayas
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A Harrogate man is to cycle from his home in Pannal Ash to the Himalayas for charity next month.
Thorsten Bruce will will cycle more than eight thousand miles and through nineteen countries on a journey that will take him eight months.
His destination will be the Rainbow Children’s Home (RCH), an orphanage in Nepal, which he is fundraising for.
Since being made redundant last year, Thorsten decided that he wanted to do something different.
He told the Stray Ferret why he had chosen the challenge:
A few years ago, one of my close friends and colleagues died. It really made me think about my life and was a big factor as to why I’ve chosen to do this.
It took me a while to figure out what I was actually going to do. I decided I wanted to put all of my passions together; I love exercising, travelling to new places, and I have a deep affection for Nepal.
I first went to Nepal in 1999, and I absolutely fell in love with the country. I’ve supported RCH for over 15 years, and I hope to raise a good amount of money for them. I want to do something that allows me to give back to the community.
Thorsten explained that the planning process has been daunting. Getting visas has taken him months and he has had to learn basic bike maintenance.
He plans to take a tent with him and “sleep in that wherever possible.”
The quickest route to Nepal would be to go through Iran and Afghanistan after Turkey, before coming into Pakistan. These countries aren't safe though, so Thorsten has had to plan his route carefully.
Instead, he will travel through Turkey into Georgia, then through Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and China before entering into Pakistan.
By starting on March 1 he aims to avoid really high temperatures in Central Asia.
The route that Thorsten will take. Credit: @thorstenbruce.adventurer.coach on Instagram
Thorsten explained how he plans to prepare:
I keep myself in good shape and I have been training for this event for about a year now. This is the first time I will have ever done something like this.
I am a runner by trade and don't usually cycle, but running this route would take a little bit too long to consider!
I am planning to cycle for about five or six days a week. Seven days a week would be too much; I must look after myself.
I also don’t see the point of rushing it. I’m not racing against anyone, and I don’t want to miss out on all of these wonderful parts of the world. If there is something I really want to go and see, I’m going to go and see it.
I’m not worrying about my mental health. I will be going at my own pace, and I often find that being away and having some time to myself is a great recharger.
As well as fundraising for RCH, Thorsten is also raising money for Young Minds. As a father to two children, this is a charity close to his heart.
If you would like to follow Thorsten’s journey, you can do so by following his social media page here. To donate to RCH, please click here, and to donate to Young Minds, please click here.
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