A funny looking bike pedaled by two people with funny soundingaccents passed through Brookhaven by way of Highway 84 to assist anot so funny cause Monday.

Huw and Carolyn Thomas, of the United Kingdom, zoomed throughtown on their tandem bicycle as part of their 10,000-mile journeyto raise awareness for ShelterBox, an international relief charitythat delivers emergency shelter and resources to people affected bydisaster.

“We’ve taken a year out of our lives to have an adventure andhelp a good cause,” said Carolyn Thomas.

The husband and wife duo began their journey Aug. 8 inVancouver, Canada.

Then, 4,000 miles later – after crossing Montana, Wyoming,Colorado, New Mexico, Texas and Louisiana – they found their way toBrookhaven, where they stopped briefly to talk about ShelterBoxwith students at C.H. Lipsey Middle School. Their trip will endonce they reach Tampa Bay, Fla.

“It’s a great way to see the country slowly,” said Huw Thomas.”If you’re in a car, you’re cut off from the rest of the world(and) smell (of) the road kill.”

Unpleasant odors of the open road would be the least of thecouple’s worries during each day’s ride, which usually covers 50 to60 miles.

Averaging 10 to 12 miles per hour and breaking every 10 milesfor food and stretching, the two have repaired 25 flat tires,replaced chains and have had to replace two worn-out backtires.

“It’s each day as it comes,” said Huw Thomas. “The hardest partis when you have a long day and having to get back on the nextday.”

To this point, however, the cyclists said they have been prettyfortunate.

“So far we’ve been really lucky,” said Huw Thomas. “The weatherhas been fantastic.”

ShelterBox began 10 years ago by Rotary Club member TomHenderson in England, and it is the Rotary Club that helps providefood, shelter and an outlet to promote the relief charity along thecouple’s travels.

“It’s a big adventure and the response has been amazing,” saidHuw Thomas.

When the two are unable to receive any help from a local RotaryClub, they often stop at campgrounds and open up a familiar greenbox – the same green box that provides help to those in need aroundthe world. Inside their box, the couple store clothes, personalitems and a tent for the whole trip.

Since being founded, ShelterBox has sent more than 96,000 boxesof aid – each containing a tent, blankets, tools and other vitalequipment for a family of up to 10 – to countries all over theworld. The charity helped thousands of Gulf Coast residentsfollowing Hurricane Katrina and delivered relief for up to 220,000people to Haiti following the January earthquake.

Completing a 6,000-mile bike ride in 2005 around the coasts ofFrance, Spain and Portugal, the couple is no stranger to long bikerides.

After finishing their stateside tour, the two are planning theirnext pedaling adventure in Europe, Australia and New Zealand.However, they will be more than happy to park the bike for a momentand ice their legs.

“It’ll go away for a while, I can pretty much guarantee that,”joked Huw Thomas about the bike following the journey’s end.

Those interested in following the journey can keep up with thecycling couple through their blog,http://tandem10.wordpress.com/.