Charlie Ingham Clark, formerly History lead and Rowing coach at Senior boys has taken time out of his career to cycle across the United States, fulfilling an ambition he has nurtured for many years. Whilst at CC. Charlie made many firm friends and inspired a generation of students to love both the academic and the physical.
Whilst with us, Charlie was clearly inspired by the work of our independent counselling service, Number 22, and by the contact he has had with our Ukrainian refugees to give a financial purpose to his cycling trek across the US.
As a consequence, he has been sending us a digital postcard to map his journey, and …
the best news of all is that he made it safely across the continent to arrive at the Pacific Ocean this Tuesday. At the bottom of this blog will appear a final ‘vlog’ I have asked him to provide to say ‘Hi and thanks for your support’!
The photo below shows Man & Bike ready for the challenge, photo taken by his father who accompanied him for the first days of his marathon journey, starting on 20/08/2022.
Charlie’s postcard from Charleston had this to say:
“Hello All,
I hope you are all well. Thank you for all your support so far on this challenge. I set off looking over the Atlantic Ocean at Sullivan Island near Charleston, South Carolina on the 20th August after two days of preparation and admin. The first few days were beautifully flat with long straight roads. I also had my father for company who was driving and meeting me at various locations on route that was great fun.
Since my fathers return to the UK, Georgia has been rolling hills for the last 150 miles and this is set to continue for at least the next few days while staying in some very quiet American towns.
You can follow me along on this link to Polar steps:
I also have a just giving page: https://www.justgiving.com/team/charliescyclingchallenge/
I’m raising funds for two incredible charities. ‘Number 22’ and ‘Ukraine Charity.’ Please do check them out on the just giving link above. I have a target of £4000 (£1 for every kilometre cycled). You can also follow on Instagram @charlies_cycling_challenge. If you know anyone along in the south of the USA please do let me know. Company and support is always welcome. Please do forward this email on to anyone interested or send me their email
Thank you again for all your support.
Charlie Ingham Clark
I hope you are all well. Thank you for all your support so far on this challenge. I set off looking over the Atlantic Ocean at Sullivan Island near Charleston, South Carolina on the 20th August after two days of preparation and admin.
I am currently in LaGrange, Georgia and have cycled 360miles (579km).
The first few days were beautifully flat with long straight roads. I also had my father for company who was driving and meeting me at various locations on route that was great fun.
Since my fathers return to the UK, Georgia has been rolling hills for the last 150miles and this is set to continue for at least the next few days while staying in some very quiet American towns.
His big postcard from New Mexico signalled progress was really good!
“Hi All,
Been on the road over 5 weeks now. Cycled across Texas and now in a town called Soccoro, New Mexico. Been getting up very early to start moving before the heat of the day. It can push up to 37c in the afternoons. New Mexico is proving to be incredible beautiful. With mountains, desserts and fields. The gaps between settlements is getting larger and larger too(Today it was 103km).
Went close to were the Americans tested their first Atomic Bomb today. Spoke to a gentlemen who told me that they still test there for various weapons and the military drive them out of the area.
Currently raised £1896 for charity and cycled over 3000km. Thank you to all of you who have donated so far. If you wish to donate please do so from the Just giving page:
https://www.justgiving.com/team/charliescyclingchallenge/
Thank you for all your support. Charlie
Had a few days in the Mountains that was pleasantly cool but had massive climbs stretching for miles. Arizona is just as beautiful as New Mexico and so stopping a lot to take photos.
After 4386km I have cycled from Charleston South Carolina on the Atlantic coast to San Diego on the Pacific. Here the cycle element of the Challenge ends.
To ensure Charlie meets his ambition to match every kilometre cycled by £1 raised, I copy below his links to the 2 major charities his fundraising seeks to support. Both are clearly close to the Claires Court Families’ heart, ‘Number 22′ and ‘Ukraine Charity‘.
In practice, Charlie has made it easy for us to donate to his chosen 2 charities via his Just giving page:
“We are a registered charity providing free and confidential counselling to adults and young people in Windsor, Maidenhead and Slough, supporting those in distress where clients can feel valued and heard.
Number 22 provides counselling, advocacy and independent visiting services to the community, free at the point of use.”
“Ukraine Charity was established in 2007 in London in order to raise funds for various charitable causes in Ukraine. Our primary focus has been on helping orphans and underprivileged children and young adults in Ukraine. However, at the beginning of 2022 we have focused our efforts on providing much needed humanitarian relief.”
Proof of Charlie’s completion of his route can be found by clicking on the Polar Links link for his route, which also picks up some more photos along the way. https://www.polarsteps.com/CharlieInghamClark/5557510-charlies-cycling-challenge?s=8C491A31-9677-4489-8198-A3E6A465A6E8
This individual cause captures what the school would wish; if you feel moved to, please do give it up for Charlie’s Cycling Challenge.
Charlie’s Vlog to Claires Court can be found here:
A Principled view 