The plan

In early 2021 my wife (Jo) and I had planned to leave our jobs at Harrow International School Bangkok to start a cycle ride back to Harrow London. COVID put paid to this plan so we pivoted to Switzerland for a short professional interlude.

The plan is back on, however, albeit in the radically different format that the COVID and various wars now dictate.

The main purpose of this trip is to have some fun. But, because it's a nice thing to be able to do, we're also hoping to raise some money for two charities: Rainbow House and Mobile Education Partnerships (MEP).

Both charities do work in Thailand, the country which was our home for a while and which sparked off this idea in the first place. We'll split whatever's raised 50:50.

Rainbow House already has cycling-related links to Harrow International School Bangkok. Added to which who could fail to be moved by the jaw-dropping selflessness displayed by Lydia Nash. Anyone who sets that kind of personal example strikes me as someone with a cause worth supporting.

MEP is another charity that Harrow Bangkok has links with. They do fantastic work for those trapped in limbo in the various refugee camps in the region. Its educational focus fits well with our own professional expertise. Also, Rob Gordon who’s driven the school’s links with MEP, is a great bloke. As with Lydia, I admire his willingness to sacrifice a bit of personal comfort and security for the disadvantaged. There have been multiple setbacks on MEP's projects stretching back to well before COVID. But like a dog with a bone, the organisation has kept going. So MEP also deserves our help.