Claires Court Outdoor Education Instructor, James Wragg, is embarking on a huge challenge this December to cycle 4,000 miles around the Great British coastline to raise money for World Land Trust. Battling through the coldest parts of the year, James said, “I could have done it in the summertime but that felt too much like a cycling holiday so I couldn't ask people to sponsor that! It needed to be a proper physical and mental challenge! Besides, it’s only British winter…how hard can it be?”
James will commence his journey in December, starting from Suffolk and travelling anti-clockwise via the mainland, aiming to complete his journey by the end of January. Cycling on average 64 miles each day, and with the absence of rest days, he has no accommodation planned en route. Without a promise of a hot bath, or even a bed at the end of the day, he intends to wild camp or sofa surf if offered. Christmas Day will be spent in the Lake District where he also anticipates to be wild camping (albeit with good views)!
James has a specific aim in mind to directly help the environment which is being fiercely protected by World Land Trust, an international conservation charity that protects the world's most biologically significant and threatened habitats. All the money raised will go specifically to support the protection and preservation of a currently unprotected area in Laguna Grande, Guatemala and he is not alone in his support of the Trust. Others such as David Attenborough, Steve Backshall and David Gower are passionate supporters and patrons as shown in the video.
All donations to the World Land Trust fund the creation of reserves and provide permanent protection for habitats and wildlife. This work is more important than ever in the face of the world's ever-growing climate change crisis and protecting primary rainforests is one of the most effective things we can do to fight this.
Throughout training, and during the challenge, James aims to be as sustainable and self-sufficient as possible. With an aim of being more environmentally friendly during training, he has eaten a solely plant-based diet and has now adopted this as a permanent lifestyle choice. He has also vowed to use as little single-use plastic as possible over the two month cycle and his choice of transport is a 30-year-old Dawes Super Galaxy touring bike which has been specifically restored for the challenge.
James’ donation target is £3,000, and just over a week out, he has raised 77% of this reaching £2,323! We look forward to following his journey along the way which will be documented through his webpage www.cycleforchange.co.uk and on our Claires Court social media channels.
If you would like to donate to James’ cause, you can do so using this link.
