Corsham based NHS worker Tom Frost is set to tackle the iconic Lands End to John O’Groats cycle ride later this summer, in aid of vulnerable street-connected children in Kolkata, India.
The 1,000 mile route – also known as LEJOG – will take 10 days to complete, and will see Tom cycling 100 miles a day, beginning in Lands End in Cornwall (the westerly most point of mainland England) and ending in John O’Groats in the northeast tip of Scotland.
By taking on the LEJOG challenge, Tom hopes to raise funds for The Hope Foundation, a charity dedicated to transforming the lives of vulnerable street-connected children and families in Kolkata, India.
Tom, who works for the NHS, will specifically be raising funds for HOPE’s healthcare programmes for marginalised communities, who would not otherwise have access to healthcare; this includes Hope Hospital, the Night Round ambulance – a primary healthcare provision – and a new mobile dental clinic.
Tom is also one of HOPE’s child sponsors and has been supporting the education of a young person in Kolkata for several years. He discovered a passion for India after spending a few months in the country when he was 24 and was later inspired to support HOPE after watching a travel programme featuring HOPE Patron and TV presenter Sue Perkins that showed the plight of street-connected children in Kolkata.
“Two months to go until the ride and I’m nervous and excited in equal measure. I’m reminding myself that I’m doing this for HOPE as well as myself, which is helping during those long training rides,” says Tom.
“I’m very privileged to be able to take on a challenge like this when children in India are faced with daily food, housing, education and health problems to overcome.”
Tom has a fundraiser set up on Just Giving: https://www.justgiving.com/page/tom-frost-lejog