Cyclists Create Pudsey Image on App for Charity Fundraiser

A collective of cyclists undertook a 70-mile (113 km) journey across London, crafting an image of the Children in Need mascot, Pudsey, on a cycling application, with the aim of generating donations for the charitable cause. Nico Georgiou, a fashion designer residing in Hither Green, south-east London, dedicated a month to meticulously planning the intricate path before guiding the ride across the capital on 1 November. The endeavor required 12 hours and numerous intricate turns to reproduce the well-known bear, complete with his eye patch, with the highest possible precision on the Strava Art app. Mr. Georgiou informed BBC London, stating, “It’s hard riding so slowly but you need to in order to stick to the route.” He further remarked, “We weren’t helped by a few punctures as well as park closures.” “At one point the only way to keep to the line we needed to draw Pudsey was to carry our bikes and walk through a building in Belsize Park.” “When we told the builders who were working there that it was all for Children In Need they very kindly let us through.” During segments of the journey, Mr. Georgiou was joined by approximately twelve cyclists from Rapha Cycling Club and Chain Gang Cyclists, with many sporting Pudsey ears. Donna McConnell, a member of the group, commented, “Pudsey is such a well-loved figure. If you say Pudsey to anyone in the UK they know what he looks like.” She added, “We’re really happy that we could contribute something like this to Children in Need.” Mr. Georgiou adopted the hobby of generating artistic designs on the cycling application during the lockdown period. He stated, “I needed something for my own mental health and I just take so much joy in creating these routes and seeing them come to life. “He continued, “I have good sketching skills but when it comes to Strava my bike is my pencil.” In the past, he has conceptualized and executed routes depicting an Olympic discus thrower, a cyclist, and a tiger to commemorate Chinese New Year; however, Pudsey stands as his most preferred creation thus far. He further expressed, “It just felt like Pudsey would be such a cute thing to do and to put him on the map like this feels really special.” The collective has already secured over £1,000 for the charity and has established a dedicated fundraising page to solicit additional contributions. Listeners can access content from BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X, and Instagram. Story ideas can be submitted to hello.bbclondon@bbc.co.uk. Copyright for this content is held by BBC, 2024. All rights are reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the material found on external websites. Information regarding their policy on external linking is available.