Starting tomorrow Saturday 19th March, Lachlan Morton is riding 1,000 kilometres to help Ukrainian refugees impacted by the ongoing war due to Russia’s invasion.
Money raised will be donated to GlobalGiving’s Ukraine Crisis Relief Fund, which works with local partners to provide aid to Ukrainian refugees such as shelter, food and clean water.
Morton will cycle from Munich in Germany to the Poland/Ukraine border and has cited it as the longest ride he will ever have experienced, with plans to raise $50,000 in doing so.
The ride will comprise covering 1,063 kilometres in one go, northeast through the Czech Republic and into Poland before reaching the Korczowa/Krakovets border with Ukraine.
On Instagram, Morton said; ‘I’m sure you’re all very aware of the horrible situation that’s unfolding there.
‘Personally, I’ve been trying to work out any way in which I can help. To be honest, the only thing I really know how to do is ride my bike.
‘I’m hoping to get everyone in the cycling community engaged and involved.’
Morton heard the news that Russia invaded Ukraine during the Gran Camiño while sitting next to his Ukrainian teammate Mark Padun, whose friends and family are now living in a war zone.
‘I found it hard to focus on trying to get ready for a race when something so significant was happening in the world.
‘I’m a pretty optimistic person generally, but in the past couple of weeks, I’ve just felt that there has been very little to be excited about.
‘My idea is to highlight the fact war is not a far-off problem. Conflicts are a bike ride away all over the world.’
You can follow his ride on the EF Pro Cycling website, or by clicking this link.
To help Morton’s efforts, EF Education First and Rapha have combined to donate $100,000 to the fund.
You can donate here.