Starting today I am cycling 🚴‍♀️ 400 miles along the Camino Portuguese, an ancient Pilgrimage route, in 12 days to raise £ for greater cultural understanding in a time of rising global tensions.

As I cycle I can imagine pilgrims from across Europe, centuries ago travelling on foot, making acquaintances and positive links through acts of kindness, smiles and a little casual labour, to get them from A to B.

Arriving into Lisbon Airport, I smiled when I saw that British passport holders were allowed to go through the EU channel. (Thank you Portugal for not writing us off!) The UK is Portugal’s oldest ally and that counts for a lot here, even today (even if Trump is ripping up the rule book on friendship).

So that’s the first cultural link.

Yesterday we cycled along the Tagus River to the mouth of the estuary to the magnificent Belém Tower, built to welcome Explorers back from the great Voyages of Discovery and to herald the homecomings of maritime ships from India and other countries far away. It speaks of the past and journeying bravely across the seas to unknown lands.

That’s the second cultural link; being open-minded to think beyond our own borders.

And then there’s the third one: Day one today took us past a statue of Catherine of Braganza; it was thanks to her dowry upon her marriage to King Charles II that tea first came to the UK. And by a roundabout route that tea originally came from China. What an impact on UK history and society that drink has had on the UK and the world.

So my Camino journey, is a pilgrimage dedicated to building links and a better relationship between the UK and the country that I have invested so much energy into, over decades, namely China. That’s the fourth link and, in our troubled world, this seems like a good time to find ways to create bridges and develop greater understanding.

I am raising money through this cycle ride - a total of 398 miles for Engage with China, a UK-based charity building understanding about China in UK schools. The EwC scholarship programme, now entering its third year, takes British 16-year-olds on an educational adventure in China. It is an important jigsaw puzzle piece that not only provides an excellent education - but is also a way to foster better global relations. I hope it might encourage you to donate a few £ to support Engage with China to reach more UK pupils and open up new horizons and opportunities for the young generation.

Thank you! 谢谢

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