A 1,300-mile journey from Frome to Rome is under way after two friends turned a casual pub idea into a six-week cycling challenge across three countries.
Frome resident Anton Grais set off with friend Joel Rooprai on 17th May and the duo will cycle for six weeks across three countries, crossing rural landscapes, busy cities and challenging mountain routes in the Alps.
They are aiming to raise £1,500, which will be split between Mind, the British Heart Foundation and the Royal British Legion.
The idea came following a ‘tipsy’ trip to the pub last year. They left their jobs – Anton worked in property and Joel in aerospace defence – to undertake the adventure.
Anton said, “It is a bit surreal to be honest that it was just a drunk idea and now has become reality. Neither of us really cycled that much before this trip. The most I had done was about 90 km, but we are doing about 100 km a day now.”
Anton was in the Air Force for five years and said he wanted to raise money for the Royal British Legion to support other veterans.
Having also witnessed a friend have a heart attack when he was younger, he was driven to support the British Heart Foundation.
He said, “I also wanted to raise money for MIND because it is a mental health charity. Even if someone doesn’t think they are going to suffer from poor mental health they might do at some point or know someone that needs the charity’s support.”
So far, they have experienced some challenges along the way, including carrying out bike maintenance on the side of the road, with heat also presenting difficulties.
“At some points there are no shops; it is just pure road, just me and Joel riding along,” Anton added.
To support their fundraising campaign, visit https://shorturl.at/DPCoa
