Jason’s cycle epic full of surprises

Jason Walsh, of Oakcroft Gardens, has this week been recounting the ups and downs of his 37-day journey across India in a bid to raise money for medical relief charity, Merlin.

The 27-year-old could never have imagined what a roller-coaster ride his cycle trip would become, when he jetted off to the country, at the end of July, alongside his friend, Rich Thomas, 23, from Wales.

He said: “It’s been an incredible experience but one that certainly had some ups and downs to it.

“Rich had to pull out after a few weeks, due to illness – which was a massive blow.

“I was forced to take on most of the journey alone and there were some moments when things became pretty tricky,” admitted the medical student.

“Tricky” was perhaps a bit of an understatement. Little more than halfway through his trip, Jason was arrested by police who believed him to be a potential terrorist passing through the country.

“I got back to a hotel after cycling for about nine hours straight. I was very tired.

“I showed the people at the front desk my passport and went up to my room. Then an hour later police were outside my door, taking me to their headquarters.”

Jason faced a three-hour interrogation by Indian police about why he was in the country and what he was doing, before he was released without charge.

Jason completed his intrepid trail to the coastal town of Kanyakumari, in southern India, earlier this month, raising more than £3,000 for Merlin, which provides humanitarian aid to some of the world’s neediest people.

Donations to bolster his charity kitty can be made at www.justgiving.com/mattnrichcycleindia

For the full story, pick up a copy of today’s Littlehampton Gazette (Thursday, September 20).