In October last year, 180 men and women from Unilever jumped on static bikes and cycled over 2,000 miles in the inaugural Miles 4 Mel event, helping to raise nearly £6,000 for Get A Head and remembering our dear friend and colleague Mel Jaggard who sadly passed away last year.

This year Unilever are taking Miles 4 Mel on the road!  A long, winding and hilly road as it turns out.  I am one of a team of lycra clad warriors who have all committed to the huge challenge of cycling 180 miles in two days from Unilever House in Leatherhead to Mel’s home town of Gilwern in South Wales.  The challenge includes a second day of 100 miles and a total ascent of 1800m (that’s the equivalent of climbing Mont Ventoux, one of the most gruelling climbs on the Tour De France).  It will no doubt be a tough challenge requiring heart and commitment but hopefully one equally characterised by fun and laughter.  A fitting way to keep Mel’s memory alive and to help fund future research into ACC.

The money raised will help fund a project at the new Molecular Research Centre at The Royal Marsden to understand the genetic pathways of ACC to enable them to find targets and blockers for it. The project will require funding for the next four years at least so your money really will make a huge difference!