On Sat 9th July 2022 I start my 1,004 mile Solo, unsupported, Lands End to John O’Groats cycling challenge in aid of local hospice care. I have given myself 14 days for the challenge but am aiming to complete it in less. Just to make my challenge even harder,  and possibly worth a little more sponsorship, as if 1,004 miles is not hard enough, I intend to camp on the route to help keep my personal costs down. This means I will have to carry all my equipment (approx 10kg) and sleep on the floor rather than a comfy bed. (I might have some support from Louise, my wife, for my first night and maybe a night in a real bed in Manchester courtesy of my daughter Millie).

I want to take on this mad, challenge in order to raise a minimum of £7,963, the cost of 24hrs of inpatient care at Rowcroft Hospice.  Our family has experienced first-hand the truly extraordinary work of Rowcroft.  My mother, Sheila Fraser, benefited from the wonderful care and friendship of staff and volunteers of Rowcroft for several weeks, twice in fact. The care offered by Rowcroft’s Community Care Team provided my wife and her brother the invaluable support they needed to care for their father Fran Harvey, in his own home.

There are very few people I know who have not been touched by the wonderful people working or volunteering in hospice care around the country. Rowcroft like every other hospice is committed to making every day the best day possible for people living with life-limiting illnesses while offering comfort and support to families coping with their hardest days.

My family and I spent several weeks virtually living at Rowcroft Hospice while losing our mother. We really struggled during this unbearably sad and difficult time. However, there was a calmness, a serenity about Rowcroft, even a comradery with other families experiencing the same personal trauma.

Rowcroft has a special place in the heart of our family. I am very proud to take on a small (1,004 mile) challenge to enable me to say thank you to Rowcroft Hospice and raise some well-needed funds so they can continue to care for others who need their support.

Rowcroft Hospice is a charity with the vast majority of its funding coming from the incredible generosity of the community. Please help make the pain of cycling 1,004 miles worth it and sponsor me for whatever you can.

Once you have sponsored me whatever you can, PLEASE, PLEASE PLEASE, forward this page as far and as wide as you can. Help me reach my target and more. Simply forwarding this page on could make a huge difference to the total we make together.

Cycling 1,004 miles from Lands End to John O'Groats (LEJOG) is not a challenge to be undertaken lightly. As you would expect this challenge requires a significant amount of committed training and preparation, physically and psychologically. My progressive training programme started at the beginning of January and continues until the week before my challenge.  I will post weekly updates of my progress, pain and experiences on my fundraising page. LEJOG is not just 14 days of relentless cycling, aching muscles and a sore behind. Oh No, LEJOG is months of progressive training, aching muscles, soreness and practice expeditions. Please, make my pain worth something, anything and enjoy my progress.

Please remember to click Gift Aid to enable Rowcroft to gain 25% more funds at no additional cost to you.

Thank you very much, Ken Fraser