EPIC journeys for charitable causes are becoming more commonplace, it seems, but Garth Lezard’s two-and-a-half-year bicycle odyssey across 24 countries in six continents still manages to inspire.

The charitable organisation chosen by this unusual man for his unusual mission is Leonard Cheshire Disability, a UK-based organisation that extends its reach to developing countries worldwide. Wondering what route to take on the final leg, Oceania, Lezard decided to let himself be guided by his love of rugby, especially Super Rugby, which is where Canberra comes in.

“In this region, my first country was New Zealand and when I first started courting the media, I thought about how else I could get the story out there about what I’m doing and the charity I’m raising money for,” he says.

“Then it occurred to me, not only can you visit the different Super Rugby teams, but they can also be a general route through the country. How else do you decide the route?”

In Brisbane, the start of the Australian section, the Queensland Reds presented him with an autographed jersey that he can use to raise money. About 1200 kilometres later, he rolled into Canberra late on Anzac Day, hoping to meet someone from the ACT Brumbies.

The next morning “CityNews” finds him at Brumbies headquarters in Griffith, having just emerged from a meeting he thinks went pretty well.

“I’ve hit them up and I’ve got two tickets to the game on Saturday,” he says. He also asks the various rugby teams he visits if he can meet the players, take photos and record “light-hearted” interviews with them for a documentary film about the rugby-themed portion of his journey.

Along the way he’s been using sponsored camping gear by Lifeventure and bikes by Titan, and Leonard Cheshire Disability officially recognised his efforts after he visited their London head office. But he didn’t wait for approval or sponsors before he first decided to go; he just took off. And after a short run down to Melbourne plus a quick dash around Samoa, he’ll be almost done.

“After Samoa I come back to Melbourne and I ride across to Perth to see the Western Force, and that’ll conclude my journey,” he says. Perhaps an island break is needed before taking on the final challenge of crossing the Nullabor.

Lezard traces the idea back to his graduation from a photojournalism degree, and his first attempts to build a body of work around social justice issues.

“But it was when I was visiting some relatives in Lusaka, in Zambia, that a cousin of mine took me to a Leonard Cheshire children’s home where she used to volunteer, and I spent the day photographing the kids and the facility.”

Impressed by what he learned about the organisation, he focused his lens on their homes, snapping portraits at around 20 of them in different countries.

“This has been a personal journey and it’s led to this ride I’m on now,” he says. “I’m going to do a book of the story and how the humanitarian angle came about, and in that I hope to include some of the portraits, when I share that part of the story.”

He hopes the book, the documentary and motivational speaking gigs at corporate events will all help raise money for the charity. But clearly, like all fundraising adventurers, Lezard is also doing it for himself.

“When you’re powering yourself, you’re going at a pace that you actually connect with the land,” he says wistfully. “And then as a result, you’re better able to connect with the people.”

To support Garth Lezard’s round-the-world ride, go to e-mile.org/journeys or facebook.com/garthlezard

PHOTO: Garth Lezard by Brent McDonald