Hi, I'm William, and I'll be cycling the Devon Coast to Coast route, which is 104 miles from Ilfracombe, on the North Devon coast, to Plymouth, on the South Devon coast. I'll be doing this over the weekend of 10 and 11 September 2011. Regardless of the weather, the trip will go ahead. 

 

I'm fundraising for Myeloma UK, a charity that researches better and more effective treatments for the disease that is myeloma. Myeloma is a rare type of cancer. Currently incurable, thanks to research done the treatment (and crucially, early detection) of the disease has improved significantly.

These advances mean that people living with myeloma can enjoy a good quality of life for much longer, but the simple fact is further research is utterly dependent on funding. Every penny is desperately needed, which is why I'm asking you to sponsor me with as much as you can, and then to get your family, friends, relatives and colleagues to do the same.

 

My cycle trip will be unsupported, which means I'll have no support vehicle, and that I'll be on my own. This means my panniers will weighed down with tools, food, a sleeping bag, clothes and everything else I may need.

 

Now while I'm quite prepared to end up with tired, aching legs and a rather sensitive bottom, you have a far harder, and more important task: please donate to support this extremely important cause and get everybody you know to also support Myeloma UK?

Without your donation, Myeloma UK may never find the cure for this disease. That's quite a responsibility you carry, and I want to thank you for helping!

 

I'm supplying the bicycle, the chocolate bars needed to keep me going, the train ticket to Barnstaple (from where I'd first need to cycle the 14 miles to Ilfracombe, just so I can start from there and cycle all the way back!), the drinks I'll be consuming along the way, and a fair bit more. 

I'll be doing the route over two days, overnighting at the youth hostel in Okehampton. 

 

Now we know what I will be contributing, let's look at what you can do to help.

I'd like you to try and imagine how badly you would want a cure, or simply better and more effective treatment, if somebody close to you was diagnosed with myeloma. Once you realise just how much a cure is needed, please decide on how much you'd be willing to donate to help find that cure.

 

After all, from anybody's perspective, the best time to help research is before you or somebody close to you needs the benefits of that research.

 

Also, please share this page with everybody you may know, "Like" this page on Facebook, and encourage others to do so, too.

Finally, if you REALLY want to make a difference, start your own fundraising campaign for Myeloma UK. Just visit their site and look at all their fundraising ideas, or come up with your own, personal challenge.

Just remember, if we all work together, cancer can be beaten!

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