WELCOME TO MY ANDES TO THE AMAZON CHALLENGE 2008

Following the Vietnam & Cambodia cycle in 2006, it's time for a new fundraiser, this time to 11,000ft in Peru in aid of the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation.

Lung cancer is the biggest cancer killer in the world and there are 38,000 new cases in the UK every year.

THE CHALLENGE:

On Sep 11, 2008, I will fly to Peru to cycle more than 300km from Machu Picchu - the secret village of the Incas high in the Andes mountains - to the Amazon river and the famous rainforest. It will be a high altitude cycle - at 11,000ft believe it or not - and a couple of days will be spent acclimatising in Cusco, the ancient Inca capital.

More information on the challenge can be found at:

http://www.charitychallenge.com/expedition_details.jsp?id=870

It will be tough, and many months of training will be required. This is no jolly to South America. It will be gruelling and, at times, I imagine I'll wish I had never bothered, but it is in a good cause - to help try and combat a killer disease.

Members of my extended family have been affected by this condition. If truth be told, most people in this country will have direct experience themselves.

HOW YOU CAN HELP:

It's simple. Donate - as much as you can spare. I'm paying the costs of the trip myself so every single penny raised will go directly to the Roy Castle Foundation.

Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation will receive your money faster and, if you are a UK taxpayer, an extra 28% in tax will be added to your gift at no cost to you.

The Roy Cancer Lung Cancer Foundation is the only charity in the UK dedicated solely to combatting lung cancer. The money I raise will go towards the building of the Elizabeth Montgomerie Centre in Glasgow, which will be dedicated to lung cancer patients in Scotland.

It is a joint venture between the Foundation and golfer Colin Montgomerie, who lost his mother, Elizabeth, to the condition in 1991.

So please sponsor me now!

Many thanks for your support.