Redundancy odyssey

Laid off? Get laid back

Not so long ago, Ken Dunbar (48) lost his job; he had been Chief Executive of the Castle Morpeth Borough Council but was made redundant when the council was abolished in early 2009. Today, Ken is pedaling a mammoth 8,600 miles from Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, in Argentina to Cartagena, Colombia to raise money for both the British Red Cross Society and the Latin American Foundation for the Future. For Ken, redundancy has been an opportunity; it has given him the time to undertake this epic cycling adventure.

The journey hasn't been without difficulty. When WideWorld spoke to Ken, his journey had been delayed in Punta Arenas for a week; he was stuck there waiting for new spindles to arrive from the UK. Howling winds had blown Ken’s bike off the path, snapping his spindle. Dunbar has also been hampered by the cold; ice has made the roads treacherous and he gave a tired laugh as he told that his three season sleeping bag has not been enough to keep him warm. Ken has been forced to dispense with spare clothes in order to lighten the load in his trailer: "It's not fun wearing Lycra around town" he admits. Despite these challenges, there is no doubt that Ken is relishing the ride.

"The most important thing is to enjoy the journey," declares Ken. With the tales that Ken tells of friendly locals and incredible new experiences it is easy to see how he takes pleasure from the endeavour. He excitedly recounts that he took a dip in the sea a mere three kilometers from the Antarctic. How was it? "Cold," he confirmed.

Ken has advice for fellow adventurers. Everything's made easier by "learning a little Spanish" and "drinking a little sugary tea." Ken is upbeat about his progress, and hopes to make his finish by the 14th January.

For more information or if you would like to support Ken’s cause please visit here