PURPLEMAN

YORK’S PURPLEMAN TO CYCLE INTO SYRIA TO DELIVER 1000 CUDDLY TOYS

Purpleman, the iconic York performance artist who sits astride his purple bike on Stonegate in the centre of York and claims to be the most photographed cyclist in the world, plans to cycle across the border into war-torn Syria next month. His aim is to deliver 1000 cuddly toys to Syrian children and he is appealing for donations of soft toys to take with him.

Sitting on his purple bike in Stonegate, Purpleman meets many hundreds of visitors each day. It was once such encounter with a Syrian refugee now living in Harrogate, which brought the plight of the Syrian children home to Purpleman, and set him on his course.

Says Purpleman, “People stop to have their photograph taken with me and some take the time to chat. One day I got talking to a gentleman from Syria who told me about his life back home and the terrible conditions children are living in inside Syria.

“As Purpleman my aim is to put a smile on people’s faces, and in their hearts. I decided there and then that I needed to take the power of purple love directly to the children of Syria. I feel that the warmth of the people of Yorkshire can best be expressed to these children through the gift of soft toys. Everyone can relate to a cuddly toy.”

Next month Purpleman will fly to Turkey with the donated cuddly toys, where friends have arranged for a purple bike and trailer to be ready. Dressed in the full Purpleman clothing he plans to cycle across the border into Syria.