May 6, 2025 — Media Advisory
WHAT: On May 1, 2025, UK-native and Munich resident Laura Beacall begins a 4,000-kilometre solo bike ride across Central and Eastern Europe to raise funds for the International Rescue Committee (IRC) and witness IRC’s lifesaving work in Serbia and Italy. Over the course of four weeks, Laura will cycle through multiple countries to spotlight the urgent need for humanitarian assistance and amplify the voices of displaced people.
Frustrated by global aid cuts and the growing number of suspended relief projects, Laura decided to take action in her own way:
“The decision to freeze foreign aid is devastating. Overnight, healthcare, nutrition, and emergency services vanished for communities who need them most. It felt impossible to do anything in the current climate—but I couldn’t just close my eyes and pretend it wasn’t happening.”
Her journey is a symbolic reminder of the arduous paths many refugees have taken across Europe over the past decade—journeys made not by choice, but by necessity.
WHO: 31-year-old Laura Beacall, originally from Merseyside in North-West England, has lived in Munich, Germany, for the past 10 years. Her ride is both a personal mission and a public call to action.
“I want to show that ordinary people can make a difference. You don’t need the best gear or the fastest bike—just determination, spirit, and a lot of leg power. I’m taking on 4,000 km with a 30-year-old steel-frame bike, a one-man tent, and a whole lot of jokes.”
WHY IT MATTERS: Ten years after Europe’s so-called “refugee crisis” dominated headlines, millions remain displaced. With humanitarian aid facing cuts and political momentum waning, initiatives like Laura’s aim to keep the spotlight on those whose journeys are far fromover.
WHEN: May 1 – May 31, 2025 Laura will visit IRC-supported humanitarian programmes in Belgrade, Serbia, and Trieste, Italy at the end her journey, meeting with refugees and asylum seekers supported by the IRC. Follow Laura’s journey on Instagram: @lyrabeacs.
Get in touch for interviews and embeds with Laura in Trieste/Belgrade: Joanna Nahorska, joanna.nahorska@rescue.org