VERMILLION, S.D. (Dakota News Now) – George Barks is at the halfway mark of his trip across the United States, as he cycles to raise money for a charity looking to improve villages in Ghana.
The former Royal Navy Submariner from Peterborough, England, started his journey in Astoria, Oregon. His goal is to make it to Virginia Beach, Virginia, by the middle of November.
While his military service has helped prepare him for living on his own for days at a time, it’s his first time taking a trip like this on a bike.
“Prior to this, 90 miles in the United Kingdom, just to iron out the creases. What do I need, what do I don’t need? What’s my fitness level? What’s my bike like? Is there any kit I need to upgrade or improve?” Barks said.
After making some adjustments to his gear along the way, he’s now comfortable taking on long stints.
After starting on the West Coast, he said he’s glad to have been able to ride through beautiful and truly isolated wilderness.
“Even some of the open landscape, it really humbles you to know that some of these towns are so isolated,” Barks said.
Barks has partnered with the United Kingdom-based charity Village by Village, with the goal of raising £15,000, or roughly $20,000, to build infrastructure in Ghana.
At the end of his cross-country trip, he’ll go to Ghana to build the projects he himself raised money for.
“These communities lack healthcare, education, sanitation, and fresh water. A lot from day to day, I think a lot of us take [for granted] the privileges we have of having water come out of our taps. Sharing toiletries. We kind of complain about the prices of living going up. There are people out there with a lot less than us,” Barks said.
Barks said his experience in the United States has been priceless, but he is also excited about the opportunity to go to Ghana and meet the people he will be helping directly.
“I really want to immerse myself in their community and within their culture. Just so I can really learn how difficult these people and these communities have it,” Barks said.
George has been keeping people updated with his progress online.
While none of the funds will stay in the United States, he said he’s been amazed by how many South Dakotans and other Americans have heard about his mission and donated anyway.
That comes especially from a few one-off encounters he’s had along his trip.
“[A couple] made a generous donation of $300, just at a campsite. They saw me on this one section of road. I had to go on to the interstate. There was no other way to get where I needed to be. They saw me along this road, and were like, ‘You crazy English guy. Get off this interstate.’” Barks said.
The culmination of those in-person encounters and the encouragement that he’s seen online is helping George enjoy his time in the United States and come to love the reception he’s received along the way.
“And it’s that sort of mindset of everyone is really positive towards their growth and their goals. That’s really inspiring,” Barks said.
George said this isn’t his trip alone, but for those who care about others, it’s a trip they’re taking together.
“What makes this trip happen is the people who are supporting, whether it be encouragement, through social media and sharing, or the donations. It’s not me doing this. It’s we are doing this,” Barks said.
You can track Barks’ progress across the rest of the United States here.
His GoFundMe page can be found here.
Copyright 2025 Dakota News Now. All rights reserved.