From Ealing to China...By Bike

Local men hope to raise £20,000 for MS charity

Cycling from England to China to raise money and hope for Multiple Sclerosis sufferers, two Ealing men have overcome numerous physical and mental obstacles, endured pain, hunger and temperature extremes, encountered the kindness of strangers and met all of their challenges with hope and determination.

However, now that they are just three weeks away from reaching their destination, they need kindness from those closer to home to help them meet their fundraising target of £20,000.

Tim Keeling, who lost his father to MS when he was just 8 years old, and Peter Bloor, who lost his Grandmother to the disease, set off from London on 16 June 2009, determined to make a difference to the lives of other MS sufferers and their families.

Following a route that roughly traces the ancient Silk Road, they set up a web page for donations at www.spinningsilk.org.uk, packed their bags and set off on the journey of a lifetime.

Traveling through 17 countries without using any public transport except across sea, they have grappled with 16 languages, fixed 23 punctures, broken two wheel rims and crashed in one particularly nasty Hungarian pothole!

They have crossed treacherously high and icy mountain paths, been chased across central Turkey by huge sheep dogs and huddled for warmth as nighttime temperatures dropped below -20 in the Uzbekistan desert.
Sharing cold, hard bedroom floors with mice and often not knowing where the next meal would be coming from, Tim and Pete have also been touched by the generosity of those they have met along the way.

Invited for tea, dinner and traditional wedding dancing, there is no doubt that it has been an incredible adventure.

But their ultimate goal has never been far from their minds. On the 20th anniversary of Tim’s father’s death, they raised a glass with two Afghan refugees while vowing to keep on fundraising to fight the plight of the thousands of other UK families whose lives have been affected by the crippling illness that is MS.

As Tim and Pete embark on the final leg of their journey, they now desperately need more donations to help meet their target.

Please help them to make their trip complete and help change others’ lives by giving what you can at www.spinningsilk.org.uk

February 3, 2011