Folkestone teacher from Brockhill Park Performing Arts College, near Hythe, cycling around the globe for children’s hospital that treated pupil

Reporting by Imogen Howse

A Kent history teacher is cycling 18,000 miles around the world to raise money for a children’s hospital which treated a pupil at his school.

Jacob Zintel-Warner, from Folkestone, set off from Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children in London on April 4, 2024 - and is hoping to arrive back there to complete his journey by August.

The 31-year-old has so far travelled through 24 countries, including China, Thailand, and Vietnam, and has amassed an astonishing 12,600 miles on his bike.

Mr Zintel-Warner, decided to embark upon the around-the-world fundraising adventure after hearing about how Great Ormond Street had helped one of his pupils.

He is currently cycling through Australia - but will next fly to Canada, where he was born, before he heads down through the United States.

"Seven years ago, I went travelling around Asia and I met a tourist in China who was cycling around the world,” said Mr Zintel-Warner.

"Until then, I had no idea it was possible to do something like that - and it became something I aspired to.

"At the same time, I had also always wanted to do some fundraising, and while I was working at school, I spoke to a student who had been treated at Great Ormond Street.

"She spoke very highly of them and after visiting the hospital, I knew this was what I wanted to do.

"This way I could help other people while also completing my own adventure."

Mr Zintel-Warner resigned from his job at Brockhill Park Performing Arts College, near Hythe, in order to take on the challenge - but says his job is waiting for him when he returns to the UK.

Over the last year, he has travelled through the UK, France, Belgium, The Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Slovakia, Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria, Greece, Turkey, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, China, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, and Malaysia, and is currently in Australia.

He added: "A lot of countries have been amazing but a favourite experience has been travelling a stretch of 800 miles of desert through Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.

"I was really nervous about that and so completing it was amazing.

"China was also incredible as there are huge cultural differences and I travelled 1,500 miles across mountains, villages, and all sorts of landscapes.

"But the solitude was quite tough as I basically spent three months not talking to anyone.

"That's my fault - I don't speak Mandarin and no one really spoke English - but it was still tough.

"Other low points would be when someone tried to rob me in Vietnam, which wasn't too much fun, or dealing with big packs of stray dogs in Turkey.

"But in general, the only really tough thing is the mental challenge - and pushing through when you're so exhausted."

When Mr Zintel-Warner completes Australia, he will fly to Canada - and then cycle through the US, hopefully finishing in New York.

He will then fly back to the UK and complete the journey outside Great Ormond Street - where it all began.

He said: "I imagine I'll be sad when the adventure's over as it's been such an amazing experience.

"I've been so moved by the kindness of people while I've been on the road - both in the sense of the donations people have given and in the sense of people going out of their way to help me while I've been cycling.

"It really restores your faith in society and makes me want to help more when I finish this."

Brockhill Park Performing Arts College, where Mr Zintel-Warner worked until recently, described his journey as "inspirational".

The school's principal, Charles Joseph, said: "We are so proud to support Brockhill history teacher Jacob’s epic solo cycling journey around the world in support of Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital.

"Jacob’s journey is inspirational to us all at Brockhill, and our Student Council has chosen to adopt Great Ormond Street through Jacob’s Geocycling JustGiving page.

"We have run a number of charity events at school to support Jacob’s fundraising efforts - and encourage everyone who can to consider donating to this wonderful cause.

"My message to Jacob is simply: The whole Brockhill community is in awe of what you are doing and of course the wonderful work of Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital. Stay safe!"

Mr Zintel-Warner has so far raised just over £5,000 for Great Ormond Street.

You can donate to his JustGiving page here: https://www.justgiving.com/page/geocycling