UPDATE: Team Backup UK for Cancer completed this challenge on 18 June in 6 days, 22 hours and 48 minutes.

Thank you for your truly marvellous support - including reclaimed Gift Aid a total of £13,674.60 has been raised in aid of Cancerbackup (updated 29 July 2008)

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TEAM BACKUP UK FOR CANCER (TEAM BUKC)

Promoting Inspiration and a Zest for Life

 Ordinary People Doing Extraordinary Things

Cancer survivor, Andy Griffin is the inspiration behind Team Backup UK for Cancer. In pursuit of his dream, Andy with 3 Ironman triathlete friends and 8 support crew has created a four man team to race over 3,000 miles across America from the Pacific to the Atlantic. The team is totally committed to supporting Andy to realise his dream. In doing this the team has four key objectives:

• to be a Race Across America (RAAM) finisher

• to provide hope and inspiration to those touched by cancer by showing one can lead a fulfilling life post treatment by applying the right mindset

• to increase the awareness and raise funds in aid of Cancerbackup

• to have fun by living the dream!

The race has been described as one of the toughest on earth, a fact that convinced Andy and the team to take on the Herculean challenge of this event starting on 11 June 2008. In doing so the team will demonstrate that ordinary people can achieve great things by setting their minds to it and by believing in themselves and in each other. The team’s amazing target is to complete the race in less than 9 days - expectations are riding high!

The team's mission is to competitively complete RAAM 2008 with a sense of overwhelming joint achievement and ‘fun,’ as well as raising funds in aid of Cancerbackup.

11 times Paralympic Gold medallist and London Marathon winner Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson DBE is supporting Team Backup UK for Cancerto ride the extra mile for charity.  Tanni, who is the team’s Patron, said of Andy Griffin:
 

"When I was seriously training 30 mile sessions were some of the most gruelling for me, so the thought that Andy, who onlytook part in his first triathlon in 2005 after rigorous cancer treatment, is going to attempt with his team to cycle over 3000 miles across America in 9 days is awe-inspiring.   Andy is proof that if you have the belief and determination you can achieve whatever you attempt. Good luck to Andy and Team Backup."

For more information on Cancerbackup goto:
 www.cancerbackup.org.uk:

 For more information on Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson DBE goto: www.tanni.co.uk/home.html

For more information on Team Backup UK for Cancer goto:
www.teambackup.co.uk

Thank you for visiting the team's fundraising page. Please dig deep and sponsor us online.

Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Cancerbackup 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.

So please sponsor us now!

Many thanks for your support.