Monday 14 November 2011

The Sea2Sea ride, charity and background



Tom von Kaenel is a long distance cyclist, he is now to embark on his most challenging objective.

Tom is Chairman and founder of a joint US and UK Charity called Sea2Sea.  The Charity's mission is to give back to those who served. Specifically, the purpose is to raise the awareness of the sacrifices that the British and American service members, veterans, and their families have made since 9/11 and to help them find the charity organisations that can provide them with assistance.

Tom and his team are organising the first annual cycling trip, this is of 4200 miles lasting 77 days and spanning the US continent to do this.  The start is in Oxfordshire, England on 21st April cycling to London Heathrow Airport, fly to Seattle, Washington, have a two day prep and set off from Copalis Beach, cycling southeast to arrive at Washington, DC on 4th July.  The journey ends after flying back to London on 6th July and then cycling from London Heathrow Airport back to Oxfordshire, Endland.

The aim of this event is to raise $10M and £5M for the respective US and UK Charities.

In many ways the journey started on the 11th November with the launch of the website on Armistice Day in the UK and Veterans Day in the US.  It was on this day that Radio Oxford interviewed Tom about the trip and the charity that he has formed.





Click here to hear the Tom's interview by the BBC

This Blog will follow the journey and provide information of how the journey is progressing as it makes its way across the UK and the US.

As we come to the end of 2011 it is a good time to review 'where we are'.

The amount of support needed for such a ride is immense, legal, financial medical, sport fitness requirements are all imperative.

Just now we have most of requirements in place but still other yet to source, the fitness that Tom will need to cycle 60 or 70 miles a day for 11 weeks is considerable. That in itself is a major challenge, more so when you consider that Tom is still recovering from a major cycling accident.  He is being helped by specialist sports therapist Adam  Dobson, and when we say therapist this is what that means.

See and hear  Tom massaged

The progress made so far is good, the interest that the ride is generating is very positive,  just watch this space for more information as the days to start get closer.