ONE man . . . one wheel . . . one mission . . . 18,000 miles.

That's the challenge facing 19-year-old former Wellington School student Ed Pratt in just 22 days' time, as he aims to become the first person to circumnavigate the globe on a unicycle.

Ed will be raising money and awareness for 'School in a Bag', an initiative run by the Piers Simon Appeal which provides aid in the form of school bags to poor, orphaned, vulnerable and dis¬aster-affected children throughout the world.

He aims to raise £7,500 - the equivalent of 500 school bags for children across the world - and has already pas-sed the £800 mark.

What motivated him to take on the colossal challenge?

On his website, World Unicycle Tour, Ed says: “First and foremost, I love riding unicycles - it offers a great physical challenge, but also complete mental focus because you know if you don't see a pothole or bump in the road you're coming off.

“When you're unicycling you're unicycling, that's it. I love that.

“Most of the appeal of the world ride comes from the fact that nobody has done it.

“To achieve a world first would be pretty special.

“People do it on bikes all the time, so what's to stop anyone attempting this feat on a unicycle?

“I'm also keen to meet and interact with new people on my journey, and I've found that the unicycle, through the interest it creates, is a great way to do this.

“The ride isn't about getting around as quickly as possible (I estimate it taking me 18 months), but experiencing and engaging with the countries I pass through.

“I'll be camping as much as possible to give me the flexibility of where to sleep and drastically cut down on acc-ommodation costs.