Skateboarding from Brighton to Tangier, British skater has his entire luggage stolen halfway

The 21-year-old Brit who set off earlier this May to skateboard 2,414 kilometers from Brighton to Tangier for charity has hit a few bumps along the way—literally. Sam Allison, who’s skating through France and Spain to raise funds for the Ben Raemers Foundation, almost had to cancel his trip altogether after a rough twist of fate.

Halfway through his odyssey, while camping in France, someone swiped everything : His tent, clothes, even his passport. All Sam had left was his phone, wallet, and an unshakable stubbornness. «It’s just sad. I’m trying to do a good thing, and I’ve had that taken from me», he shared on social media.

But instead of throwing in the towel, Sam detoured to Bordeaux, got an emergency travel document, and restocked his kit. With a lighter bag (thanks, thief?), he joked that skating actually felt a bit smoother.

Now back on track, Sam is rolling through France and Spain, eyeing the finish line in Tangier, Morocco.

When he first started his journey, Sam said that he felt compelled to support the Ben Raemers Foundation because skateboarding helped him through his own mental health struggles.

«I didn’t realise how much it could impact your life until my own negative experience», he said. «Ever since then, I’ve had it in the back of my mind to raise awareness for mental health [in the skating community]».

Sam had planned to skate roughly 48 km a day for 55 days, carrying all his essentials in a large backpack, including clothes, cooking gear, a sleeping bag, a tent, and spare skateboard wheels… before they vanished.

His friend Lucas Perrin is expected to join him by bicycle for parts of the journey, helping to keep his spirits up, make sure he’s hydrated, and, let’s be honest, ensure he doesn’t get lost.