Team L&M
Luke Grenfell-Shaw and his pink-and-blue tandem bicycle named “Chris” crossed the Wagah border from Pakistan into Punjab, India. Crossing into India was no small feat, having already cycled 17,000 kms across 27 countries, complicated by Covid19. Two weeks and 500 kms later, Luke is now in New Delhi to celebrate the Indian segment of his inspiring global cycling expedition. The British High Commissioner to the Republic of India received Luke in New Delhi.
“We are proud to welcome Luke and the Bristol2Beijing expedition to India!” said High Commissioner Alex Ellis CMG. “This vast and diverse country has so much to offer, and Luke’s hopeful message is already resonating with people of all ages here. We wish him a continued safe and enjoyable journey as he carries on towards Kolkata and, later, to Beijing.”
Bristol2Beijing is a global tandem cycling expedition that aims to redefine what is possible with a cancer diagnosis. Luke was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive sarcoma in 2018 at the age of 24. His expedition invites people to participate, especially CanLivers (people living with cancer) and individuals from the countries through which he is riding, in whatever ways they can. Many participate by getting active at home.
More than 200 people have joined Luke on the tandem – 15 of which are CanLivers. More than 2,000 donors have participated by contributing to Luke’s ambitious fundraising goal of £300,000 GBP for charity.
In India, Luke has added CanKids KidsCan, NGO dedicated to Change for Childhood Cancer, to the short list of charities he is supporting. CanKids KidsCan is working in partnership with 121 Cancer centres in 53 cities and 22 States which treat over 12,000 new childhood cancer cases every year.
Deb Mukherjee, a 17-year-old CanLiver living in Patiala, is excited to be the next to join Luke on the tandem from New Delhi. Deb is a member of a CanKids KidsCan Konnect group of young people living with cancer in their past or present.
“I’ve had such a warm welcome into India these first two weeks,” said Luke, “made possible by my wonderful local charity partner, CanKids KidsCan. It is a real honour to be received today by the UK High Commissioner, offering me an important audience for my message. I wish to show the world that a cancer diagnosis does not have to define your life – that you can set ambitious, adventurous goals and live life to the full. Deb, who is joining me on the tandem today, is a perfect example of the CanLive approach I am promoting. We can live with cancer, powering through with hope and resolve to a brighter tomorrow.”
After Delhi, Luke will cycle through North India along the old Grand Trunk Road to reach Kolkata by February, before moving into China and Beijing.
“We look forward to facilitating connections for Luke to share his story, his inspiring message, and his love for cycling and sport,” says Poonam Bagai, Founder Chairman, CanKids, herself a cancer survivor. One fifth of funds raised in India en route to Kolkata will be dedicated to CanKids KidsCan, supporting their work with children living with cancer in India.
