Ex-firefighter cycling round the world for Grenfell youth

A retired London firefighter is set to embark on a round-the-world solo bike ride to raise money for projects helping young people affected by the Grenfell Tower fire.

Stephen Aslin, 58, will start the 30,000-mile cycling challenge from North Kensington in west London on the eighth anniversary of the fire, which claimed the lives of 72 people.

He plans to be on the road for a year and half and will drop in on fire stations along the way. He aims to be in New York for the 25th anniversary of 9/11 in September next year.

"I leave London on the 14th June and head to France. Then I cycle across Europe to Turkey, Kazakhstan and India. I travel through the Far East, on to Australia and then America. I aim to cycle 100km each day for five days of the week, with a two-day rest," Stephen said.

Stephen, who was brought up in North Kensington, told BBC London he was "lucky enough to serve as station officer at the local fire station for the last four years of my career."

He says his former colleagues and friends in west London have been deeply affected by the tragedy.

"A schoolfriend of ours died in the fire," he said. "This challenge is a remembrance for Ernie [Vital] and his mum [Marjorie Vital] and the other 70 people that died in the fire."

Stephen will be raising money for youth projects funded by the Grenfell Foundation, which helps the bereaved, survivors and the local community in west London.

"I want to be able to help the next generation," he said. "But it's not just about raising money but also raising awareness as I go around the world about the lack of justice that's happened as we progress over time to the ninth, 10th anniversary of the fire.

"I'm leaving on the eighth anniversary and when I get back there still won't be prosecutions."

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