SOMERSET NEWS: Charity unicyclist pedals through Europe

UNICYCLIST Ed Pratt is making good progress during the opening weeks of his amazing round-the-world adventure on one wheel.

Ed, 19, of Curry Rivel, set off on the 18,000-mile journey back on March 15 and having travelled from Somerset to Weymouth and crossing the English Channel by ferry he made his way up through France. He has now crossed the border into Belgium before going on to Holland and then heading down through Germany.

In the first two weeks of his crazy 18-month journey he had chalked up around 500 miles on his trusted, albeit unconventional, mode of transport.

Ed has been humbled by the support he has received from people along the way so far who have been more than happy to provide accommodation and food.

He has now appealed on his social networking Facebook page that if anyone living on the route would “like to host a tired and hungry unicyclist – please don’t hesitate to get in touch.”

“I’ve been completely overwhelmed with generosity over the last few days,” he said.

PHOTO – TOP: Ed is seen at Pegasus Bridge which crosses the CaenCanal in Normandy, France, and became a key objective of the British airborne troops in the opening minutes of the Allied invasion of Normandy on June 6, 1944, during the Second World War. Photo: Courtesy of Ed’s Facebook page.

PHOTO – RIGHT: Ed takes time out for a “selfie.” Photo: Courtesy of Ed’s Facebook page.

The former WellingtonSchool student is hoping to raise £7,500 for the Somerset-based School in a Bag charity.

The School in a Bag charity is part of the Piers Simon Appeal which was created following the death of former YeovilCollege student Piers Simon in the Asian tsunami of Boxing Day 2004.

The charity provides school equipment for children in poor countries around the globe. Each bag provides a child with exercise books, pens and pencils, a maths set, a lunch box and drinks bottle, and a rucksack to keep everything in one place.

Ed’s planned funding target would be enough to provide 500 of these bags.

For further information on Ed’s adventure, please visit: www.worldunicycletour.com .
For his fundraising page, please visit: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/WorldUnicycleTour .
To follow Ed on Twitter: www.twitter.com/worldunicycle (@WorldUnicycle).
To follow Ed on Facebook: www.facebook.com/MrEdPratt .
To follow Ed on You Tube: www.youtube.com/user/worldunicycletour .

PHOTO - ABOVE: Ed’s planned route down through Europe over the next few weeks on his unicycle. Photo: Courtesy of Ed’s Facebook page.

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