A SOMERSET teacher is fundraising money for Save the Children to help children affected by disasters and conflict.

Chris McKie, 58, who is head of science at Kingsmead School in Wiveliscombe. He will be cycling by his bike, riding 4,600 miles along the Silk Road to raise money for the organisation in honour of his late mother who died last year.

His mother, was a life-long supporter of the charity after the help she received when she arrived in London as a child refugee from Germany during the war.

He says it has childhood ambition of his since to cycle the Silk Road since he learnt about the historic route at school, and he was fascinated by the picture of it that was on the front cover of his geography textbook.

Somerset County Gazette: Somerset teacher cycles to fundraise for Save the Children Fund.Somerset teacher cycles to fundraise for Save the Children Fund. (Image: Chris Mckie)

Chris will only be able to cycle 4,600 miles, from Istanbul to Almaty (Kazakhstan), taking a ferry across the Caspian Sea, because some of the route is closed due to covid and 'politics'.

He said : " I would like to use this personal challenge to raise money for the Save the Children Fund in honour of my amazing mum Daisy McKie. They are a charity that she supported throughout her life, after the help she received as a child refugee from Germany during the war."

He also added : " I'm taking 4 months out to cycle the Silk Road 'a la Marco Polo' ,except on bike, solo and will be camping too."

Currently the charity is actively raising money for the disasters in Turkey/Syria and in Ukraine.

Although his request for a terms sabbatical for the trip was unfortunately refused, and he will not be returning to his school, he hopes that his adventure will serves as an inspiration to his students who will be following his journey on the blog he writes.

He says that knowing that his exertions are helping others will help spur him on when it the going gets tough.

On his departure date he said thahis departure date is set for the April 12, to return by the of July 19 because of his wedding anniversary.

Chris has managed to raise £1,365 so far. Donations can be made on his Just Giving page click here.