A student from the University of York is set to cycle 2600 miles across Europe this summer in order to raise money for charity.
Langwith College’s Philip Charlesworth is planning the mammoth bike ride for this summer and is looking to raise £2600, one pound for every mile he cycles. The proceeds will go to the British Legion. Philip, a first year Biology student, initially wished to complete the bike ride as a personal challenge but his military family background compelled him to turn the ride into “something worthwhile”.
Speaking to Vision, Philip said that despite the fact that he stays in good shape, the bike ride would still be quite a challenge. “I’m not a cyclist at all,” he said, “boxing and swimming are my main sports”.
Choosing to embark on the ride without a support team or even a riding partner, Philip can do nothing but cross his fingers and hope everything goes well. I don’t have anything as a back up apart from my phone,” said Philip, although he added that thanks to his dad’s military connections he does know “quite a few people dotted around the place” who will be there just in case of emergencies.
The student has received a positive reception from everybody he’s shared his plans with, including York Cycle Works who generously loaned Philip a bike on which to do the ride.“I need to hope I don’t lose it or crash it or something awful like that” he joked.
Finally Philip revealed that whilst he is doing the bike ride for charity he is also planning to make the most of his rest days: “I’ll be having about one rest day a week or so – I’m hoping to tie it into when I’m on the beach!”