Challenge update  - After cycling 3567 miles through 9 states in 48 days I completed my solo bike ride across America on 28th June

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGhfW007dFE

I want to sincerely thanks everyone who supported my journey and donated to this great cause and pledge anyone to generously donate who has not yet done so on the completion of my challenge.

Thankyou!

As an avid cyclist for the past 20 years I have been fortunate enough to cycle alot of the U.K and Western Europe including the full length of the Alps and 7 European countries in one trip. 

In 2010, a great friend and I cycled from Lands End to John O’ Groats. This was a great trip and brilliant way to see the land. However, I could not help feeling a form of regret knowing that the big cycling trips I have done were not for charity as I planned them little in advance and that they had potential however big or small to raise funds and awareness for worthy causes.

So this time I’m hopping on my bike in the hope to try and make a difference!

THE CHALLENGE

Therefore, I have planned my biggest and most challenging journey on the bike to date. In May 2012, I hope to cycle the entire length of the world famous American Route 66 starting from Chicago and finishes in Los Angeles. This includes a huge detour to Monument Valley and Grand Canyon, with the significance being that it's one of the longest and most famous roads in the world. I then go further from Los Angeles to San Francisco.

Why America and why Route 66?

Well, I needed a worthwhile challenge and I have always been fascinated by the vast land of America. The thought of such a challenge occured when I saw Billy Connolly’s documentary of Route 66 which he did on a motor trike. At the very end he says “Route 66 is like life, complicated but well worth the effort, you should try it”. I thought maybe this is the challenge I have been looking for so I will try it, I'll get on my bike and cycle it for a great cause. I am planning on cycling the entire 2600 miles from Chicago to Los Angeles within 30 days and then go a further 600 miles to San Francisco from Los Angeles.

It will be a big challenge in every aspect as it will be a solo self supported journey on a bike carrying all my camping equipment and other necessary items. The journey will take me through subtle and drastic temperature and topographical changes through 9 states and 3 time zones. It will take me through states such as Illinois, Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma where tornadoes are rife at that time of year (quite worrying) as well as contending with the flat, barren and desolate windswept plains of the Texas Panhandle, the scorching heat of Mojave desert and the mountainous terrain of New Mexico, Utah, Arizona and California, and because my direction is from east to west then chances are I will predominantly be confronted by headwinds as alot of the wind in America blows from the Pacific which will make the cycling harder!

The whole journey will be over 3200 miles in distance with a total of 26,700 meters of climbing which is an altitude equivalent of going up Mount Everest 3 times.

Follow my ride for an insight on the following link.

http://www.facebook.com/events/219812368116699/#!/events/219812368116699/

THE CHARITY

My first task was to select a worthwhile cause that I can do this for and spread awareness. My uncle suggested I do it for Imran Khan Cancer Appeal (IKCA) as he and his son had done the Leeds half marathon for the cause and as a doctor he has himself seen the signifcance and great work carried out within the establishment.

I started looking into the charity and it created awareness within myself.

Here in the UK, we are so lucky to have the best treatment and care and that patients do not have to pay for it, whereas in poorer countries it can still be extremely difficult to find good treatment as the National Health Service does not exist. Even if they manage to find a good doctor or treatment, in most cases they cannot afford to pay for the treatment as it is very expensive.

Imran Khan witnessed the pain and suffering of his own mother, Shaukat Khanum, going through cancer which she eventually passed away to in 1985. He also saw the pain and suffering of other patients and their families going through exactly the same and knew that much more needed to be done. After several years of intense efforts of fundraising and campaigning, the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital & Research was established in 1994.

Prior to the establishment of the hospital in 1994, no comprehensive facility dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of cancer existed in Pakistan. Over the last 13 years, the hospital has established itself as a centre of excellence providing comprehensive care, free of charge, to thousands of cancer patients. The amount spent on providing free treatment to patients during this period is well over $130 million.

I am amazed at the work IKCA does and it really brings the meaning of the word 'charity' to the forefront. If I can through my cycling challenge raise awareness and funds, with the help of any donations from the generosity of people, from all over, and have even the smallest of impact in making any difference for those who suffer from cancer, then this is a great achievement we can all be proud of.

Thanks alot  for reading this and I  know times right now are hard for many and all I am asking is to give from the heart, any generous donation will help those in need of our help, no amount is too small...Thankyou!