Cyclist raising awareness of slavery

A GUINNESS World Record-breaking cyclist is to don his Lycra again to ride the length of Wales to raise awareness of climate change’s link to modern slavery.

Gordon Miller, 60, is to follow the Lon Las Cymru cycling route, which will take him from Cardiff to Holyhead via Brecon, Rhayader, Corris and Porthmadog between today and Friday.

He said he is “very excited” for the 254-mile cycle, especially as he will be joined by Ffion James, a former professional road cyclist who is now a development officer for Welsh Cycling, on day one.

“It’s a real privilege to ride with one the Welsh nation’s best-known cyclists,” Mr Miller, who lives in London, told PA.

He said Welsh Cycling has supported the ride from the start and helped forge “many connections who are engaging with us on and off the bike”.

He will visit Radnor Primary School in Cardiff on day one, where he will speak about Ride For Freedom, the non-profit organisation he founded and leads which supports victims of modern slavery through cycling.

“We’ll then have a cycling session for the children to get a sense of the freedom survivor service users experience,” he added.

Speaking about climate change’s link to human trafficking, he said: “There are several ways it occurs, for example, individuals are forced to migrate due to climate change rendering their homes and neighbourhoods unsustainable. This exposes them to elevated risks of exploitation in the forms of human trafficking and forced labour, which are forms of modern slavery.”