Remember the last time you got in a panic whilst packing for a long weekend away? The exact configuration of a French plug socket suddenly escaped your mind, and you were overwhelmed with frustration at the steps to re-set your password for the EuroStar app.
Well imagine organising yourself to set off around the world. Without a suitcase. For an indefinite period of time. A minimum of 28,000km of pedalling ahead.
Fin Tusting did just that in May 2025, before beginning his journey to raise money for the Chellington Centre , a 12th century church that became a youth centre in 2005, thanks to his late grandad.
With the width of Europe, and sections of Central and South Asia, behind him, Fin has just completed cycling the length of Japan.
Fin’s fundraising total currently stands at £5630. A sum that will support Chellington’s services, and would not exist if Fin hadn’t chosen to set off his adventure.
“The Chellington Bursary Fund offers financial support to organisations that look to deliver life-changing experiences at Chellington to disadvantaged young people. The fund gives opportunities to young people in particular need, whether that be through ill health, disability, financial hardship or other disadvantage. By providing funding for groups who find it impossible to finance residential stays for their beneficiaries, it gives disadvantaged young people who are the least likely ever to experience it, a chance to relax in nature.”
It is really easy to think that challenges like this are only possible for people who are incredibly privileged. That is until you go cycle touring yourself, and realise the road is busy with people from all walks of life. Yes, there are obvious demographic biases; in my experience, I’ve met a lot of white Europeans, but they’re not all of them are graduates of the Sorbonne.
For every young person, seemingly free from responsibility, there is another person who has made a considered series of choices to get to that position. It might be the choice to not have kids, or to work seasonally, or to save intensely by way of a frugal lifestyle. There’s lots of ways that people make it work to treat themselves to rich experience of several months on the road.
But not everyone sees the outdoor environment and natural world as so accessible. A anecdote from a close friend, who teaches in south London, always comes to mind. When he showed the kids a series of pictures from the UK’s National Parks, they were confused. The rolling hills were unfamiliar. When they’d heard about these spaces, they expected them to be like theme parks: pay to enter, with flourescent lighting displays and capacity limits.
So that’s why I admire Fin’s choice of charity, and the work that the Chellington centre does. It gives young people the opportunity to see the countryside that is available to them.
Whilst resting in Tokyo, Fin recently dropped a few words to me:
"In the run-up to leaving, I got to know the Chellington team much better. I got to interact with children who use the Centre and answer questions about my trip. Inside the Centre itself is a map with a line of my route that I’ve traced across the world so far. When I was growing up, brief interactions with people like Mark Beaumont and other modern-day adventurers hugely inspired me to become the person I am today. For this trip will be a success if I can inspire even a single child to believe that they do belong in the outdoors, where they previously didn’t think they did.”
To donate to Fin, head to: https://www.justgiving.com/page/finlay-tusting-1
From military guards in Tajikistan-Afghanistan border, to the asphalt of Japan, Fin has kindly shared some images from his journey so far:
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