UK couple spend Coronavirus lockdown on Thai island during epic round the world cycle to raise money for breast cancer charity

UK couple spend Coronavirus lockdown on Thai island during epic round the world cycle to raise money for breast cancer charity

LOCKDOWN isolation in your own home might not be very exciting but imagine if you happened to be stuck on a remote island in Southeast Asia.
Euro Weekly News spoke exclusively to Chris O’Hare who, along with his wife Gabriella, is cycling across the world to raise funds for charity Prevent Breast Cancer.
The brave and kind-hearted couple are currently locked down in Thailand on a beautiful little island called Phi Phi where they can swim to catch their own dinner and their home is a tent erected inside a cave.
The couple set out two years ago and have cycled 21,300 km across 27 countries so far. Along the way they have promoted their cause through TV, radio, press, visiting hospitals and their fantastic website which features entertaining and informative videos of life on the open road.

Uzbekistan with young children tobacco farmers.

However, due to the coronavirus crisis limiting people’s income, donations to Prevent Breast Cancer have dropped drastically.
“We have only managed to raise £11,000 so far which the charity is very happy with but we really feel like we could do more,” said Chris.
Prevent Breast Cancer, based in Manchester, is the only UK charity funding ground-breaking research solely aimed at preventing breast cancer for future generations. Unlike many cancer charities, they are focused on preventing, rather than curing. Promoting early diagnosis, screening and lifestyle changes, to stop the problem before it starts.
EWN first spoke to the couple when they were living in a motor home in Torrox, Malaga Province. They were here training in Spain for their big event. Chris pointed out that “being close to Malaga airport meant that Gabriella was able to fly home to the UK to receive her treatment.” Gabriella had sadly been diagnosed with breast cancer and had undergone a double mastectomy and was receiving chemotherapy.

The couple have set their tent in the cave to shelter.

Now the couple are fighting fit and ready to get back on the road, Chris said, “We haven’t cycled for seven weeks now, but have been keeping fit by running and swimming and the food is all healthy here.” He also pointed out that “We had been on a three-month Thai visa but luckily the government have extended it due to the crisis. When the borders are open again we will head on to Malaysia.”
Chris also stressed that “the trip is all self-funded as we sold up in the UK. Every penny that is donated goes directly to the charity. If we get handed a donation on the road it goes straight to the Prevent Breast Cancer, Just Giving account.”

If you would like to donate to Prevent Breast Cancer you can do so through the link on Chris and Gabi’s page www.chrisandgabsworldcyclingtour.com where you can also read their full story and follow them on what is truly a magnificent journey.

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Written by

Damon Mitchell

From the interviewed to the interviewer

As frontman of a rock band Damon used to court the British press, now he lives the quiet life in Spain and seeks to get to the heart of the community, scoring exclusive interviews with ex-pats about their successes and struggles during their new life in the sun.

Originally from Scotland but based on the coast for the last three years, Damon strives to bring the most heartfelt news stories from the spanish costas to the Euro Weekly News.

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