AS an intrepid adventurer, global pedaler Garth Lezard has cycled through various countries around the globe, all in the name of charity.
The Glenhills resident’s personal voyage began in 2010 and has seen him cycle through 24 countries on six continents, covering an estimated 30 000 km.
The 48-year-old has been raising awareness and funds for the Leonard Cheshire Home in Queensburgh but also The Cheshire Global Alliance, a charity that supports people with disabilities around the globe.
His epic journey has now been captured in his first book, Pedal by Pedal: Life is Better When You’re Laughing.
“When I began my travels in 2010, I never thought I’d be here one day with my first ever book about my travels. I did jot down notes on all the cities, towns, villages and countries I cycled through in the form of a travel diary. In part, that is what I used to help put this book together. I also had fantastic support from Beth Williams, who is the editor of the book, to help streamline my cycle journey.
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“For me, this was about combining my passion for global travel with endurance sport, that is, cycling. I also wanted to use it as a platform to raise funds for the Leonard Cheshire Global Alliance. Of course, none of this would be possible without the generosity of strangers who opened their hearts and doors to me throughout my journey. There were also a fair few times I had to settle with impromptu camping, but it was all worth it,” he said.
Lezard also recounted how he got involved with the Leonard Cheshire charity.
“I graduated as a photojournalist in Swansea, Wales in 2004. I then embarked on a concerned body of photographic work where I explored a number of problems in global society. It was by chance that I was visiting family in Lusaka, Zambia when my cousin invited me to the Kabulonga Cheshire Home for disabled children, where she volunteered.
“I spoke to the staff and young people there and photographed the facility. One of the ladies who worked at the home also gave me a pamphlet outlining what the Leonard Cheshire Global Alliance does. I was so moved by what I saw, that I decided to support them as my charity of choice on my cycle around the world. Through this incredible opportunity, I’ve visited around 20 Cheshire homes. The Leonard Cheshire Home in Queensburgh became aware of what I was doing through a story in Northglen News, and they were also a home I raised funds for on my Oceania journey,” he said.
The book is available on Amazon and is also available in Kindle format.
