Encountering an unusual road block in Thailand.
It’s been nearly a year since Oli Broom set off from Lord’s Cricket Ground in London to travel to Australia for the Ashes and he’s still not arrived yet; why? Because he’s doing the entire journey by bike!
Oli set off from London on 10 October 2009 with the aim to cycle, alone, 25,000km to Australia in time for the first Ashes Series in Brisbane in November 2010. In doing so he wanted to help promote the game of cricked in the 22 countries he would pass on his route and raise £100,000 for his two chosen charities – the British Neurological Research Trust and The Lord’s Taverners.
Throughout his trip he is relying on the kindness of strangers to provide him with a bed and refreshments. Now he’s in Thailand and is reflective of the kindness and support he’s received along the way so far and is hoping for more support for one final push for the last leg of his journey.
So far he has raised £4,620 for The Lords Taverners, a charity that helps to bring the game of cricket to disadvantaged and disabled young people around the country and £6,146 has been raised for the British Neurological Research Trust which supports research into spinal cord injury and aims to improve life of those who suffer dehabilitating spinal cord injuries.
As well as raising money for these two good causes Oli hopes to be able to help the communities he passes along the way, as a way of giving something back to the people who are supporting him in his travels. As Oli says on his website: “I am looking forward to meeting the people (and cricketers) of Europe, Africa, Asia and Australasia, and teaching school children of all ages about a sport which they may not have heard a great deal about.”
It may be a rather unique way to travel to Australia but Oli hopes it raises awareness of his chosen charities and also provide him with a challenge, to test himself to the limits and to see the world in a totally different way, meeting as many locals as possible.
If you would like to show your support to Oli you can donate via his website cyclingtotheashes where you can also catch up with his blog and find out where he is now and what his plans are.
We wish Oli the very best of luck and we’ll hopefully catch up with him once he reaches his destination in the Gabba in Brisbane!
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