Josh and ET set to head west on epic charity ride

Over the last couple of weeks social media has been alight with sightings of ET, being pedalled around town in the front basket of a bike.

Behind the basket is 21-year-old Josh Garman, and he and ET are not just out for a ride, but actually in training for a lengthy journey.

Josh, who lives in Milford and currently works at Waitrose in Godalming, will head off on a 600-mile ride this weekend to raise money for the charity Hope for Hasti.

He will first head for Dover, and from there turn west and cycle along the south coast all the way to Land's End.

He is carrying all he needs on his bike: a bivvi, spare clothes and a solar charger for his phone so he can, of course, phone home. Inspired by marathon walk.

Former Charterhouse pupil Josh says he was inspired to take on the challenge after hearing about Chris Brannigan, who walked 700 miles across Britain, from Lands End to Edinburgh, to raise funds for gene therapy to help his eight-year-old daughter, who has a rare genetic condition.

The idea came to him while on a night out with a friend in Godalming, Josh says.

"I was looking to do something after Covid, and I was really desperate to do something exciting, something that would make a difference" he explained.

"I was in Wetherspoons and she brought up this guy who was doing this barefoot walk across England, and that was enough for me. I read into it and learnt about what he had done, and all about the charity.

"I want to raise funds and awareness of the charity, and to bring a bit of magic into people's lives at the same time.

"I hadn't cycled for two years, so I dug out my bike and did it up. I've had about three weeks training.

Making people smile.

"I wanted to do something slightly silly and something that will make people smile. When I started doing the training I didn't know what response I would get, but as I passed them people started to smile," he said. He has had support from the Hope for Hasti charity, and has spoken to Hasti's mother about the project. "Her mum, Hengemah, rang me and was really excited about the idea," he says. "She thought it would be really fun." ET himself came from an online auction site, and is possibly as old as the film itself (ET the Extra-Terrestrial came out in 1982). He is securely fastened into the little white box Josh has fixed to the front of the bike, and Josh hopes he will act as a conversation starter during his journey. "I will take him into every shop I go into, and I think people will stop and talk to me about him, and hopefully my trip, and the charity I am doing it for," he said. "As I go through towns I will get off the bike and walk so people can stop me and talk." Support en route.

He is also hopeful that some kind souls will offer him a place to stay overnight, or have a shower, during the trip. Otherwise it will be back to pitching his bivvi in a safe spot and sleeping under the stars before setting off again the next day.

He heads for Crawley on his first day, then on to Tunbridge Wells, Ashford and Dover, before turning his wheels west. The actual route and daily mileage, he says, will depend on how he is feeling, as well as weather and local traffic. He aims to reach Land's End in about three weeks.

And how will ET get home after his big adventure? "I don't know yet, I haven't thought about that," Josh grins.

You can follow Josh's adventures on Facebook here, and Instagram here, and donate via his Justgiving pagehere.