Biker Ready for Epic Trip (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Biker Ready for Epic Trip

IT will be a question of to Russia with love for a Cirencester businessman who will travel 8,000 miles across Europe to raise money for charity.

Nick Laing, chairman of the Castle Street-based Steppes Travel, is planning to ride by motorbike from London to Vladivostock in Russia covering a distance of some 8,000 miles. The journey will include 1,000 miles of uncharted roads which appear on no maps.

Nick, 52, will be travelling with a group of three friends for safety including John Raymond, a friend who shares Nick's passion for Russia, his business partner Demitri Pitsev and Russian friend Alexei Nearanov.

The group plans to set off early next month and are fully expecting the journey to be arduous but not dangerous.

Nick said: "The main concern is the Russian lorry drivers, they are renowned for driving whilst drunk along the main route from east to west which is the same route that we will be taking."

All four have been trained in first aid specifically to help each other along the way.

The main purpose of the trip is to raise funds for a Russian charity, the North Crown Foundation which provides help for orphaned children living in remote parts of Russia.

The Foundation was established by Irina Kudrina, the wife of Russia's Finance Minister who has helped improve the lives of many children in Russia.

But the idea for raising money for the North Crown Foundation came from Nick's wife, Katya.

She explained: "After starting a family I realized how fortunate I was living in England compared to some mothers struggling to bring up their children in isolated areas of Russia."

Nick added: "This is a journey and a charity very close to my heart. Whilst it may all seem a long way from home the work of the North Crown Foundation is something never before seen in Russia. Irina Kudrina is an astonishing lady."

The Foundation has been responsible for renovating 74 institutions in more than 19 regions of the Russian Federation to date.

However, the organisation relies heavily on overseas help because of an ingrained belief in Russia that charity should come from the Government. Anyone who would like to sponsor Nick at Steppes Travel on 01285 880980.