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THE DECISION TO RIDE

A few years ago, I found myself at a crossroads. I’d been working as a welder in Scotland, living what most people would call a “normal” life, but something didn’t quite fit. I wanted adventure. I wanted to see the world properly, not just through a screen.

So I packed some essentials, bought a brand new bike, and set off to cycle around the world with my friend. Just the two of us, the open road, and a plan to see where it would take us.

We started sharing the journey online, and three months into the tour, we decided to go our separate ways. That was the beginning of 1bike1world, simply documenting the ups and downs of life on two wheels.

At that point, I had no idea how much my life was about to change.

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MEETING NALA

While cycling through a quiet mountain road in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2018, I heard a small meow. I stopped and followed the sound, which led me to a tiny kitten all by herself on the side of the mountain. She wasn’t scared. She wasn’t hiding. If anything, she made a beeline for me, almost like she’d decided I was exactly who she was waiting for. That was it. No dramatic rescue. No big plan. Just a moment that felt like it was meant to be. My first thought was to take her to the nearest vet and make sure she was okay. But as I cycled along with her perched on my shoulder, completely at home already, something shifted. The decision kind of made itself.

I chose the kitten. I named her Nala, and from that day on, it was no longer just my journey, it was ours.

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FROM TRAVEL COMPANIONS TO BIGGER PURPOSE

As Nala grew, so did our audience. People connected with her. Her calm nature, her confidence, her love of adventure. Through 1bike1world, we were able to share not just beautiful landscapes, but the bond between a human and a once stray kitten who simply decided to trust.

Travelling together opened my eyes to the scale of the stray animal crisis across different countries. We met lot of animals in need and incredible rescuers doing their best with limited resources. That’s when things started to shift.

What began as a travel adventure slowly became something more meaningful. We started rescuing animals we came across. We supported local shelters. We used merchandise to fund veterinary care and emergency rescues. Every purchase from our community helped another animal somewhere in the world.

But for a long time, I knew I wanted to formalise it, to build something lasting.

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BECOMING NALA'S ARK

After years of rescuing and fundraising through our platform, in July 2025 we officially registered as NALA'S ARK.

This charity represents everything that moment in Bosnia set in motion.

NALA'S ARK is built on values that guide everything we do. We focus on rescuing animals in need, promoting humane solutions like TNR (Trap, Neuter, Return), raising awareness about animal welfare, keeping our planet clean, and supporting other animal shelters that need a helping hand.

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The charity is run by the same team that runs 1bike1world, working together to keep everything running smoothly and supporting our mission. There’s me, Dean, as founder, overseeing rescue efforts and the overall direction of NALA'S ARK. My mum and sister Holly are the beating hearts behind the knitting needles, lovingly creating our hats and blankets and taking care of packing and posting parcels. Babs is the powerhouse behind the scenes, managing everything from the website and customer service to accounts, order processing, and product releases.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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​​And then, of course, there’s Nala - the REAL BOSS. She keeps us all in line, making sure her humans know who’s really in charge. When she’s not sitting at the front of my bike, directing our travels, she’s supervising the knitting and packing, jumping into every parcel to “inspect” it, or making surprise appearances to remind us it’s time for adventure. She ensures none of us ever forgets our duties. Basically, we’re all her willing servants, following her lead as she runs the show with a cheeky grin and boundless energy.

Together, we make sure both NALA'S ARK and 1bike1world operate seamlessly, allowing us to focus on helping animals, raising awareness, and supporting other shelters wherever we can.

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​OUR JOURNEY CONTINUES

Looking back, it’s incredible to think that one spontaneous decision to cycle the world led to meeting a confident little kitten on a mountain road, and that she would inspire a registered charity helping animals across borders.

Nala didn’t just join my journey. She gave it direction.

And NALA'S ARK is our promise to keep that journey going. For Nala, and for every animal still waiting by the roadside for someone to stop.

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Dean & Nala 🐾