EURO ROAD TRIP IN AID OF UNICEF
A LOCAL motorcyclist has planned a trip of a lifetime which will see him travel around 4000 miles across Europe on his bike to raise money for UNICEF.
Simon Jones, of East High Street, Forfar, will be joined by his friend and colleague Campbell Brennan on the two-week journey in July, which was inspired by the intrepid endeavours of Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman in a documentary television series.
Simon, with his Kawasaki ZR7, and Campbell, with his Kawasaki Z750, are hoping their European Motorcycle Event will raise a target of 20,000 for the children's charity that helps children receive the support, healthcare and education they need to survive the threats of childhood poverty.
The planned route begins in Campbell's home of Glasgow and takes in the west to mid-part of Europe. With only three nights' accommodation planned in the two week period, Simon and Campbell will be camping the rest of the journey and have decided that they will take a two day trial run in June around 400 miles of Scotland equipped with all their luggage.
Their fundraising journey begins on July 4 which will see the pair travel through England and into Wales for their first stop to visit Simon's father.
From there they will travel into Cornwall then head along the southern coast of the UK to Dover, boarding the ferry to Calais. They will then travel down the middle of France and along the south coast to Italy. From there they head north up through the Alps into Switzerland, Germany, Luxembourg and Belgium.
Simon and Campbell, both second officers in the Merchant Navy, were originally planning their journey to take in the Baltic States but were deterred by visa requirements to do so.
On return to the UK, they plan to journey up the east coast and return to Glasgow by their finishing date of July 18.
Simon said: "We are looking to raise as much money as possible and hopefully try and make this a regular event except we want to broaden our horizons next time.
"We are thinking about doing Route 66 from New York to Los Angeles or going further east into Europe."
Paula Pearce, head of fundraising initiatives, UNICEF UK, said: "On behalf of UNICEF UK, I would like to thank Simon and Campbell for their valued support and wish them the best of luck.
"This is a once in a lifetime adventure and even though they will be tested to their limits, they're sure to have fun along the way.
"UNICEF is present in all the countries that they are visiting as children all over the world are having their rights denied. The money raised by Simon and Campbell will help UNICEF to put it right."
For more information about the event or to make a donation visit the website (www.supportunicef.org.uk/european_motorcycle_event).
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Thursday 24 May 2012
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