Thanks for visiting the site.

Last summer I lost my Dad to pancreatic cancer. We found out in February 2006 he had the condition and by August he was gone. My family and I had never heard of the disease. But we found out quickly that it was very serious.

We were faced with the blunt facts that forty years ago 3% of people who got the disease survived and today nothing has changed. We were also told that the vast majority of people diagnosed do not survive more than six months. This I thought could not be true, but it was.

So my mate Joe and I have decided to embark on a cycle ride from Roscoff, in the North of Brittany to Bordeaux, right down South unfortunately. About 500 miles we think. We hope to raise all we can for the Pancreatic Cancer Research Fund, who are working really hard to fight this terrible disease.

As the picture shows, neither of us are pros, and spend far too much time in the pub discussing imaginary sporting glories. We are unfit, our cranky old bikes have seen better days and my tent is on the verge of collapse - so this is going to be a big challenge.

But this is a trip my Dad would have loved. We spent all of our holidays in France and he was a keen cyclist. We plan to leave on July 9 and get there in 4 weeks.

We both send all our thanks for your kind support, and if you can spare a little, we would be very grateful.

Thanks again, Ben and Joe

UPDATE: We have managed to get to Bordeaux (Arcachone) a week-and-a-half early so we are going to step up the challenge  and try to make it all the way to Biarritz near the Spanish border.

UPDATE: We arrived at Biarritz and had a day off then carried on further south. Cycling through the mountains, we made it all the way to Biarritz.

To read Ben's blog go to http:///big-trip-france.blogspot.com and for Joe's go to http://www.halifaxcourier.co.uk/joes-charity-bike-ride?articleid=3026310

Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to donate: Pancreatic Cancer Research Fund will receive your money electronically and, if you are a UK taxpayer, an extra 28% in Gift Aid will be added to your donation at no cost to you.