A MAN set off on a 1,000 mile bike ride to Austria this weekend.
Erik Schmidt, who volunteered at Tools for Self Reliance, in Netley Marsh, cycled to his home town in Linz on September 1.
The 20-year-old joined the charity last October as part of the European Voluntary Service programme in partnership with Erasmus+.
Now Erik has chosen to take the long route home to raise money for Tools for Self Reliance.
He said: "It started as a joke when I bought a new bike, and the workshop manager asked me if I was going to cycle home.
"I thought – well why not? Planning this trip and raising funds for Tools for Self Reliance is undoubtedly one of the most rewarding things I have done so far.”
Every pound donated will support Tools for Self Reliance to deliver vocational training in Africa, including refurbishing and shipping old tools donated in the UK to equip trainees.
To follow Erik on his journey, go to his Instragram page at @EriksJourneyyy and on the Tools for Self Reliance Facebook page.
Tools for Self Reliance was established in 1980 and works primarily in Ghana, Malawi, Sierra Leone, Uganda and Zambia.
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