London to Lviv • The Journey Has Begun

Pedalling to Ukraine

Matt Scarsi is cycling more than 2,200 kilometres from London to Lviv to raise £22,500 for Superhumans Ukraine.

Alongside him is a Pickups for Peace support vehicle which will help Matt on the road across Europe before remaining in Ukraine and beginning a completely new chapter of its own.

London to Lviv. By bike.

On Saturday 22 August, Matt Scarsi set off from the Ukrainian Embassy in London on an extraordinary journey across Europe to Ukraine.

Over 14 riding days, Matt plans to cycle more than 2,200 kilometres before eventually reaching Lviv.

The challenge is raising money for Superhumans Ukraine, supporting people whose lives have been profoundly affected by the war.

Pickups for Peace is proud to be part of the journey too, with one of our vehicles travelling alongside Matt as his support vehicle all the way towards Ukraine.

Matt Scarsi with friends, family and representatives of the Ukrainian Embassy before setting off for Ukraine
14 Riding Days
2,200+ Kilometres
London Starting Point
Lviv Destination
The journey begins

A Ukrainian send-off in London 🇺🇦

Matt was greeted outside the Ukrainian Embassy by Natalia, the Embassy's Press Secretary, and her colleague, who presented him with a Ukrainian flag before the ride began.

Friends and family gathered outside the Embassy in Holland Park to see him off at 9am, with members of the Embassy team very kindly coming out on a Saturday morning to wish him well.

“Щиро дякую за підтримку України і бажаю гарної подорожі.” “Thank you so much for supporting Ukraine and have a great journey.”

And then, after all the planning, training and fundraising, Matt was finally away.

Matt Scarsi and Sarah beside the Pickups for Peace support vehicle and Matt's bicycle
The Pickups for Peace connection

There are two journeys happening here.

Matt won't be making the journey alone.

Sarah is following in the Pickups for Peace support vehicle, carrying equipment and providing support while Matt makes his way across Europe.

But when Matt reaches Ukraine, the vehicle won't be coming home.

It will remain in Ukraine and begin the next stage of its working life, joining the hundreds of vehicles already delivered by Pickups for Peace.

For more than 2,200km, it will support Matt's journey. When he reaches Ukraine, its own journey of service begins.

Pickups for Peace support vehicle at Dover during Matt Scarsi's London to Lviv cycle challenge

The Journey

More than 2,200 kilometres across Europe, from the Ukrainian Embassy in London all the way to Ukraine.

London → Europe → Ukraine → Lviv 🇺🇦

Rather than publishing every planned stop in advance, we'll share Matt's progress as the journey unfolds, with updates, photographs and stories from the road.

As heard on Battleground

A welcome shoutout from Battleground

We've been incredibly grateful for the support of the team behind Battleground, the podcast which has been documenting and discussing events in Ukraine since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022.

After previously giving Pickups for Peace a mention earlier this year, they have once again kindly highlighted our work, this time while talking about Matt's London-to-Lviv challenge and the Pickups for Peace support vehicle making the journey alongside him.

A huge thank you to the Battleground team for continuing to tell the story of Ukraine and for helping introduce Pickups for Peace to even more people.

Listen to Battleground

Follow the Journey

Matt and the P4P support vehicle are continuing their journey across Europe, taking on heat, headwinds, rain and a very impressive number of kilometres along the way.

We'll keep adding the latest updates here as the journey towards Ukraine unfolds.

Matt during Day 7 of his London to Lviv cycle challenge
Journey Update • Day 7

Nordhausen → Neukirchen 🌧️

Day 7 brought something new to the challenge: proper torrential rain.

After days of sunshine, heat and headwinds, Matt finally had to contend with some seriously wet conditions as he continued east across Germany.

But the weather couldn't dampen one rather important milestone.

Somewhere around Eisenberg, Matt officially passed the halfway point of his London to Lviv journey.

Seven riding days down. Seven to go.

Rain endured. Halfway reached. Ukraine getting closer. 🚲🇺🇦

Matt cycling through wet conditions during Day 7 Day 7 of Matt's London to Lviv cycle challenge
Matt during Day 6 of his London to Lviv cycle challenge
Journey Update • Day 6

Schieder-Schwalenberg → Nordhausen ☀️

Day 6 was a hot one, with temperatures reaching around 28°C at the hottest part of the day.

Matt rode from Schieder-Schwalenberg towards Nordhausen, stopping in Barbis along the way for a lunch that sounds increasingly like proper endurance-athlete cuisine: Lidl bakery pizza followed by a Calippo to cool down.

More importantly, Day 6 brought two major milestones.

Matt passed 1,000 kilometres cycled since leaving London and moved beyond the first third of the entire journey.

1,000km crossed. More than a third complete. Keep going, Matt! 🚲💙💛

Matt taking a break during the hot sixth day of his ride Matt continuing his London to Lviv cycle challenge on Day 6
Matt during Day 5 of his London to Lviv cycle challenge
Journey Update • Day 5

Südlohn → Schieder-Schwalenberg 🚲

Day 5 kept Matt moving east through Germany, leaving Südlohn and heading towards Schieder-Schwalenberg.

Telgte provided the day's lunch stop before it was back onto the bike and onwards for another long afternoon in the saddle.

By this point the daily rhythm was well and truly established: ride, refuel, ride some more, find the P4P pickup, sleep... and do it all again the next morning.

Another day complete. Another piece of Europe behind him. 🚲🇺🇦

Matt during the fifth day of his London to Lviv journey Matt cycling across Germany on Day 5
Matt during Day 4 of his London to Lviv cycle challenge
Journey Update • Day 4

Vught → Südlohn 🇳🇱 🇩🇪

Day 4 took Matt from Vught in the Netherlands towards Südlohn in Germany, with Arnhem providing the day's lunch stop.

The weather itself was lovely, but there was one recurring problem: headwind. All. Day.

It made the ride a real slog in places, but Matt kept pushing, crossed another border and still managed to finish the day in remarkably good spirits.

Some days are about enjoying the scenery. Others are simply about getting the kilometres done.

Headwind 0. Matt 1. Germany reached. 🚲💪🇺🇦

Matt riding during Day 4 of his London to Lviv journey Matt completing another stage of his journey across Europe
Matt with his bicycle beside the Pickups for Peace support vehicle at the start of Day 3
Journey Update • Day 3

Gent → Vught 🇧🇪 🇳🇱

Day 3 took Matt from Gent into the Netherlands, with Baarle-Nassau providing the day's lunch stop.

There was plenty of headwind to battle along the way, which Matt definitely didn't enjoy quite as much as the stretches of beautifully flat Dutch cycling.

Thankfully, when the wind eased and the road flattened out, he absolutely loved it.

After another big day on the bike, Matt reached Vught and could finally swap cycling shoes for something considerably more appealing: a well-earned beer and a plate of pasta.

Headwind survived. Netherlands reached. Pasta earned. Day 3 complete. 🚲🇺🇦

Matt smiling on his bicycle during Day 3 Matt cycling through the Netherlands on Day 3
Matt enjoying a food stop during Day 3 Matt with his bicycle and the P4P support vehicle on Day 3
Matt with his bicycle beside the Pickups for Peace support vehicle at the start of Day 2
Journey Update • Day 2

Calais → Gent 🇫🇷 🇧🇪

Day 2 began in Calais with another big stretch of road ahead for Matt and the Pickups for Peace support vehicle.

The journey took them across the border into Belgium, with a very well-earned lunch stop in beautiful Bruges along the way.

There was also a lovely reminder of exactly why this journey matters: Ukrainian flags still visible along the route, hundreds of miles from Ukraine itself.

By the end of the day, Matt had completed another 168 kilometres before reaching Gent.

Another 168km in the legs. Another stretch of Europe behind him. And Lviv a little closer. 🚲🇺🇦

Matt riding through Bruges during Day 2 A Ukrainian flag displayed along Matt's route through Belgium
Matt with his bicycle in Bruges Matt taking a break during Day 2
Matt Scarsi with his bicycle after reaching Dover on his London to Lviv ride
Journey Update • Day 1

London → Dover 🇬🇧

Matt's journey began with a wonderful send-off from the Ukrainian Embassy in London.

He was joined on the bike by a colleague for the first stretch south, while Sarah followed in the Pickups for Peace support vehicle.

By the end of the day Matt had made it safely to Dover before the team crossed the Channel for their first night in Calais.

London behind him. Europe ahead. Ukraine the destination. 🚲🇺🇦

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Help Matt reach Lviv and his £22,500 target.

Every donation supports Matt's fundraising for Superhumans Ukraine as he pedals more than 2,200 kilometres across Europe.

Donate via JustGiving