Malaga boy’s 20,000km dog shelter cycle: first sponsors onboard and first dog shelter visited

Training continues for Samuel, the plucky lad in Malaga soon to cycle the world visiting dog shelters and their forgotten inmates. Daily training is on a bike that is still too big for the eleven-year-old, and who turns twelve on October 17. His old saddle is now fitted so he can reach the ground, and, despite the height, he keeps turning the pedals anyway. This week, he has already visited his first dog shelter, the Protectora de Animales in Malaga, to highlight to plight of Pandora, a loving 3-legged dog who has already been at the shelter waiting for adoption for two years.

First dog already filmed

Before a single kilometre had been ridden, Samuel walked into “Protectora Málaga”, and filmed Pandora, the first of many dogs from around the world. That short film sets the pattern for the rest of the journey: one dog, one story, donations sent straight to the shelter’s own link. No project like this has gone before. Spain already sees hundreds of thousands of dogs and cats enter shelters each year, and Samuel has decided that their stories deserve telling too.

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Kit starts arriving, big gaps remain

Supplies for the mammoth journey will be essential. Katadyn has already supplied the water filter, pans and stove. Kryptonite followed with locks for the three bikes. Cooking, clean water and security for the machines are sorted. Everything else on the list is still outstanding: three ordinary touring bikes (one preferably sized for a growing twelve-year-old), six panniers, a proper tent for three, sleeping bags and mats, helmets, lights, spare tyres, chains, brake pads and a tough camera that can film 56 shelters.

The ideal arrival date for the remaining gear is October 1, so everything can be fitted and tested before leaving. Partial help counts. A single tent or a discount on certain items still moves the plan forward. Anyone who makes touring bikes, luggage or camping kit can contact the family directly through samuelcyclestheworld.com/sponsors.

Road costs and how to help

Nineteen months of food, ferries, visas and safe places to sleep for three people cannot be covered by the family alone. Donations for the journey itself can go via PayPal (paypal.me/samuelcyclestheworld) and are managed by Wendy Dirksen Hermans, Samuel’s mum.

Follow the build-up on Instagram @samuelcyclestheworld and the official site samuelcyclestheworld.com, as well as Euro Weekly News. Samuel has already said he knows he will cry somewhere. He is going anyway. And so, no doubt, will we.

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