Purpose and pedals
Alvaro cycled from London to Madrid in one go to support survivors. Here’s his inspiring story and his ‘why’.
‘When I planned the ride, I was thinking more about the purpose than the actual cycling,’ says Alvaro. ‘But when I set off, it all dawned on me as to what I was taking on! I told myself not to worry about the distance and just enjoy the ride. Three days later, I was still pedalling…’.
Alvaro de la Camara set off on his bike from Croydon on 9 February 2022, and kept on going until he reached Madrid 60 hours later. He stopped only for short breaks, clocking up an incredible 1,430 km.
A man on a mission
Business Manager and keen cyclist Alvaro (pictured) took on the challenge to support Ella’s.
‘Not many people are aware of the impact of human trafficking and the numbers of people affected,’ he says.
‘It makes me really happy that I can use my cycling to help raise awareness and money to support survivors. The work of Ella’s is so inspiring. The way they provide care and support for survivors of trafficking fills my heart with joy, and my aim with this ride was to share this with the world.’
Alvaro needed all the joy and motivation he could get as the gruelling ride progressed. He cycled from his home in Croydon to New Haven, where he took the ferry to France before cycling the rest of the way to Madrid, Spain. The route was hilly, even mountainous in places.
An old hip injury flared up shortly before the ride; so Alvaro had to contend with that, too. He didn’t sleep at all, just taking the occasional break. At one point, the road was blocked with snow.
‘The night-time rides were getting harder and harder, especially the third one,’ says Alvaro. ‘At one point, I was a bit scared going through a forest near the border of France and Spain. Right before the sun came out after that night, I was feeling very low mentally. However, once the sun appeared, everything changed.’
Alvaro’s 1,430 km route was a massively challenging one. Photos of the ride: Marcos Fernandez
A wave of support
Alvaro was supported en route in Spain by his sister, Maria, and friend Marcos.
‘They drove alongside in a support vehicle,’ says Alvaro.
‘I was so grateful to have them there, what a pair of troopers!’
For the last stretch of the ride, Alvaro was joined by a whole group of more than 20 other cyclists (pictured). Some he knew, others had just heard of his epic effort and wanted to add their support.
‘That last day, seeing so many people I didn't know joining and wanting to hear about Ella’s, my heart was filled with joy and the sleepless days were worth it. It made me feel incredibly humbled. I’m forever grateful for the support!’
Alvaro completed his challenge, and fulfilled his mission to raise crucial support and awareness. Thousands of people followed along on social media as the ride took place. Alvaro received sponsorship and support from sports brands Apidura and Styrkr as well as Spanish cafe group La Bicicleta. He was also featured in a Croydon newspaper, and raised more than £1,680 to help fund our work with survivors.
Three cheers for Alvaro, please. What an effort, what an achievement!
Alvaro’s fundraising page will remain open for little longer. If you’d like to sponsor him post-race, you can visit his JustGiving page. And if you’re inspired to take on a challenge of your own for Ella’s, we’d love to hear all about it and support you however we can.