A FARNHAM couple are more than halfway through an epic 4,800-mile cycle across the United States, raising money for the child refugee charity Safe Passage International.

Richard Kingsley and Ellie Thornton embarked on the epic adventure from San Diego, California, in early March and are already more than 3,200 miles towards their final destination, Vancouver in Canada.

The pair are raising money to support Safe Passage’s work helping unaccompanied refugee children reunite with their families in the UK.

The charity was started by a group of volunteers in the Calais ‘Jungle’ in 2015 and, three years on, it has helped more than 1,800 children reach sanctuary.

Ellie said: “In a world where the political climate seems to be growing increasingly hostile to ‘outsiders’, we are passionate about supporting a charity that wants to build bridges, not walls.

“There have been many highs during this trip. Lows come mostly in the form of camping in the rain or battling strong headwinds on our heavy bikes.

“We are told regularly by local cyclists that we are going in the wrong direction, but are well past the point of no return!”

The pair are funding the trip themselves, with all proceeds raised going directly to Safe Passage.

Since it began, Safe Passage has worked closely with Lord Alf Dubs, himself a former child refugee who arrived on the Kindertransport in 1939.

Last year Lord Dubs and Safe Passage launched the Our Turn campaign, calling on the UK government to welcome 10,000 child refugees over the next 10 years. As part of the campaign, Lord Dubs wrote to Surrey County Council, which has since pledged to welcome 30 children.

Lord Dubs said: “Just like the individuals and communities who saved the lives of 10,000 children through the Kindertransport, the support of amazing fundraisers like Ellie and Rich is helping Safe Passage open legal routes to safety for children today.”