A former firefighter from London is preparing to undertake a solo cycling journey around the globe to fund initiatives that support young individuals impacted by the Grenfell Tower fire.

At 58 years old, Stephen Aslin will kick off his ambitious 30,000-mile bike ride from North Kensington, west London, on the eighth anniversary of the tragedy that resulted in the deaths of 72 individuals.

He intends to spend a year and a half on this expedition, stopping at fire stations along his route. His goal is to reach New York in time for the 25th anniversary of 9/11 in September of the following year.

“I’ll depart London on June 14th and travel to France. From there, I will cycle through Europe to Turkey, Kazakhstan, and India, and then continue through Southeast Asia, on to Australia, and finally America. My plan is to cover around 100 kilometers each day for five days a week, taking two days off,” Stephen explained.

Having grown up in North Kensington, Stephen shared with BBC London that he was “fortunate to serve as the station officer at the local fire station for the last four years of my career.”

He noted that his former colleagues and friends in west London have been profoundly affected by the disaster.

“We lost a schoolfriend in the fire,” he recalled. “This journey is dedicated to remembering Ernie [Vital], his mother [Marjorie Vital], and the other 70 victims of the blaze.”

Stephen is raising funds for youth initiatives supported by the Grenfell Foundation, which aims to assist the bereaved, survivors, and the surrounding community in west London.

“My goal is to empower the next generation,” he stated. “However, it’s not only about fundraising; it’s also about increasing awareness during my travels regarding the ongoing lack of accountability as we approach the ninth and tenth anniversaries of the fire.

“I’m starting this journey on the eighth anniversary, and when I return, there will still be no prosecutions.”