So how did you spend your last holiday? If you’re like most crew, you may have taken some well-deserved time off, done some traveling, just relaxed to recover from a tough season. Not so much for Bosun Christopher Morey of M/Y Radiant, who is undertaking a 3,578-kilometer cycle from the yacht’s berth in Athens, Greece, to his home in the Isle of Wight, UK.
“Like billions of people, I love to travel,” Chris wrote on the cycle’s Facebook page. “Whether it’s by moped, car, or backpacking, I’ve tried it all and I’ve loved it. But this day and age, it’s becoming too easy, with sat navs, Wi-Fi, and public transport, which takes out the real adventure.”
“I’ve always been keen and quite active on the fitness, and I’ve done a lot of traveling. … I’ve always liked the idea of challenging myself, and I came up with this idea. I think the distance is good based on my leave [from the boat],” Chris says.
What better way to go home, really? But the cycle is more than a mere ride and a chance to really stretch the legs; it’s also to raise money for the Andrea Jane Memorial Fund, which was established in memory of a friend who passed away from cancer in January. The idea behind the memorial fund is “to help young people help themselves.” The fund, which was established in March 2016, aims to continue Andrea’s work with children.
According to the fund’s Facebook page, “Andrea was heavily involved in the Scout movement from an early age and would often go above and beyond to help young people in need.” The fund’s main objective is to “provide financial support for eleven to twenty-one year olds who demonstrate that they want to help themselves.”
“[Andrea’s husband] approached me and asked if I could do [the ride] for his cause. I was more than happy to help,” says Chris.
The ride, which should take Chris about 30 to 35 days, should have him riding approximately 100 kilometers each day. He will pass through nine countries on his journey home, including Macedonia, Albania, and Italy. He plans to be self-sufficient, camping out each night, even carrying solar panels with him for charging his electronics. He sets off May 14.
We wish him fair weather and no traffic. Follow his journey on his social media channels and make sure to donate — it’s for a good cause.
Donate: https://crowdfunding.justgiving.com/Athens-to-UK
Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AthenstoUK
Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bala_morey/