4200km cycle epic through 10 countries is labour of love for Ross-shire head teacher
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THE head teacher of a Wester Ross secondary school is gearing up to go the extra mile – and then some – for a local cause close to his heart.
Gairloch High School's Wim Chalmet has his sights set on a 4200km (more than 2600 miles) self-supported cycle from Turin in Italy to the North Cape in Norway.
The effort will see the super-fit head make his way to the Arctic Circle chasing a target of £1000.
He's already received pledges for 60 per cent of that.
All being well, he'll use pedal power to make his way through 10 countries in just 18 days – with a cause much closer to home driving him home.
Speaking ahead of the North Cape 4000 challenge, he explained: "Since I started as a head teacher at Gairloch High School in 2019, I noticed the great support The Den Youth Café was providing to our young people in the Gairloch catchment area.
"Due to large geographical catchment area, it is very difficult for young people to socially engage with friends outwith school hours.
"Every Friday evening a small group of volunteers offer their time to open a youth café that gives young people a safe space to meet each other, do some activities or just an area to relax with friends.
"The Den committee also provides transport from their local villages to Gairloch and back. Needless to say that the provision of this opportunity makes a huge difference for their wellbeing.
"As this charity runs on a very small budget of £1000 a year, I would like to take this opportunity to add some purpose to my cycling adventure this summer and raise some additional funds for The Den."
He said that since 2016, he has committed himself to a summer cycling adventure challenge whilst raising funds for a charity.
He said: "For 2023 I signed up for the North Cape 4000 (www.northcape4000.com), a 4200 km self-supported cycle from Turin in Italy to the North Cape in Norway. I am aiming to complete this journey through 10 different countries in 18 days."
To sponsor Wim, see https://rb.gy/hncf6v
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