Karen Millen and cycle team raise lump sum for Teens Unite

A team of cyclists, including Karen Millen OBE, have raised £46,314 for the Teens Unite charity by cycling the 500 kilometers from Vietnam to Cambodia.

The effort began in the city of Ho Chi Minh, from where the group cycled on to visit the historic Cu Chi Tunnels. Having crossed the border into Cambodia, the team did many kilometers on quiet roads, through local village communities on the way to the capital Phnom Penh. The challenge ended up in Angkor Wat, where the group embarked on an in-depth cycle of the renowned complex of Angkor.

The challenge saw the twelve complete 7 days of cycling up to 96km a day in extremely hot and humid conditions.

Teens Unite was founded in 2007 by Debbie Pezzani and Karen Millen OBE. The charity aims to help young people suffering with life limiting illnesses build on their self esteem and confidence and reduce feelings of isolation by taking them on fun days out such as concerts, football matches and motivational workshops.

Millen said of the journey: “I decided to take on this challenge to coincide with a major development in the growth of the charity that Debbie and I set up five years ago. Teens Unite has recently opened the first specialist respite care centre for young people aged 13-24 in the UK. In order to raise funds and awareness so that all the teenagers we support are able to come for a break at the house I knew I would need to take on a big challenge. I am keen on keeping fit; however, it wasn’t until after I had agreed to cycle from Vietnam to Cambodia that I actually owned a bicycle. Watching the Olympics throughout the summer inspired me to do something I have never done before. I was worried about the heat and humidity, but I have met so many inspirational teenagers through the charity that I knew I had to cross the finishing line for each and every one of them.”