16,000 Miles, 4 Continents and about a million punctures

Around the end of July 2006 I’ll leave for what will be the most demanding challenge of my life.

Why am I doing this?

A cycling accident in the summer of 2004 landed me in hospital for a month with serious internal injuries. During that time I promised myself to do something that was a real achievement and cycling round the world seemed to fit the bill. As well as a challenge, it would also be a great opportunity to help other people and give something back.

The decision to do the ride for charity was obvious and the choice of charity was no contest. A group of sisters very close to me lost their mother to cancer. The three of them have been a great example to me of coping with adversity and their praise for the excellent work of the nurses from Macmillan Cancer Relief left me with only one choice.

Where am I going?

My route will take me through Europe, Asia, Oceania and North America.

I expect to be cycling for around 18 months, averaging 50 miles a day. That’s the equivalent of travelling from London to Newcastle every week. As well as a weekly day’s break, I'm also allowing some time for unexpected problems and seasonal issues. Being alone in the Australian outback at 50 degrees isn‘t practical, let alone appealing!

It won’t be easy, but then again it’s not meant to be.  I’m lucky enough to know that when I return, the suffering will be over, but for the Macmillan nurses and the patients they help, every day is the challenge of a lifetime.  Each and every day 739 people in the UK are told they have cancer. More than one million people in the UK today have had a cancer diagnosis, and more than one in three will be diagnosed at some time in their life.  Macmillan offers specialist healthcare, as well as practical, emotional and financial support from the moment someone suspects they have cancer.