A determined fundraiser is riding 10,000 miles to China in memory of a girl from Brighton who died of cancer.

James Finnerty is riding from London to Shanghai for the Samuel’s Children’s Charity in Lewes in memory of his friend’s daughter Jasmini Allen.

“It sounds crazy, cycling 10,000 miles across two continents, but I came to the conclusion that I could pull this off,” Mr Finnerty said.


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At the start in October he headed to Brighton and got the ferry to Dieppe from Newhaven before riding through Northern France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany and Austria. He then headed through Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria and has made it to Turkey.

He is camping as much as possible to save money.

Mr Finnerty is planning to head to Iran and Turkmenistan but if he has visa problems he will instead catch a ferry across the Caspian Sea to Kasakhstan.

He is also planning to visit Tajikistan, next to Afghanistan, to go on to Kyrgyzstan and into China through the Taklamakan desert. He will then spend two more months getting to Shanghai.

MrFinnerty said he is motivated by Miss Allen’s brave battle with cancer and aims to raise £5,000 for the charity.

Miss Allen was diagnosed with ependymoma – a rare form of cancer that affects the brain and spine – aged just five Miss Allen was named ‘Courageous Child of the Year’ at the Argus Achievement Awards in 2009, when doctors thought she had beaten the cancer after her eight-year struggle.

But the cancer returned and she died on May 30, 2011.

Mr Finnerty said: “I’m by no means athletic but this hasn't stopped other people.

Just start slowand build it up seems to be the order of the day”

He cycled from Kingston in London to Hove on October 4 last year on the first leg of his journey in order to test his equipment and get to grips with the task ahead.

He said: “Not the most scenic of bike routes but reaching the “Welcome to Brighton” markers was rewarding.”

He is cycling 50 miles each day on average and has made it to Istanbul through sunshine, rain and snow.

Samuel’s Children’s Charity provides support to families affected by childhood cancer and helped Miss Allen and her family Donations can be made through Mr Finnerty’s website at jamesftravel.wordpress.com