<p>During September 2011 along with 19 colleagues from Wickes&nbsp;I&nbsp;will be taking on an awe-inspiring cycle challenge across the Himalayas, the Roof of the World, all to help beat blood cancers.</p> <p>After 3 days acclimatising at an altitude of 3,840m in Shigatse in west Tibet we head out across the Himalayas for 8 gruelling days traversing a distance of 540km, cycling over 9 mountain passes with 4 major passes at over 5000m. Everest base camp is our goal, the road to which climbs almost 50 hairpin bends over the Pang La Pass at 5,150m. The challenge is completed with the worlds longest downhill ride from a high point just over 5,000m to below 700m taking us to Kathmanddu in Nepal.</p> <p>The distances and gradient we will face are challenging, with the altitude, terrain,&nbsp;camping with basic amenities,&nbsp;coping with altitude sickness and&nbsp;temperatures dropping to -15c overnight make this an extremely tough challenge. I am putting myself through this to complete a personal challenge and raise funds for Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research the charity partner Wickes have been supporting for the last 5 years.</p> <p>The money you donate really does save lives &ndash; so please dig deep and donate today!&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Thank you.&nbsp;</p> <p>Kevin</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Once you donate, they&rsquo;ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it&rsquo;s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.</p>