Hello and welcome to my fundraising challenge page,

Let me begin by firstly thank you for taking
the time to read this page amongst the thousands of other worthwhile causes.

Let me introduce myself and the charitable event I will be undertaking in aid of Cancer Research.

My name is Lewis Lilburn, I am 31 years young and live in a small village called Aboyne. I was born along with three sisters and a brother in Aberdeen. My mother Irene and my late Father James both have their roots firmly in the local area.

I will be cycling the North Coast 500 in June of this year, starting on the 14th with the journey up to Inverness and the start of the cycle happening on the 15th. 

I will be completing this with a target of 5 days or less, that will be an average of 100 miles a day. I will be wild camping along the whole route taking in some of the spectacular views this wonderful country has to offer.

I am currently in a high-intensity workout routine with the encouragement and guidance of Fay Jordan (Little mention, she is fantastic) helping me along with the preparation for this journey.

My personal view on this expedition with the trials that lay ahead is that of understanding that a patient diagnosed with Cancer has a far larger journey to battle through then my five days (or less, forever the optimist) on the saddle.

So what am I doing here? This is a question that has gone around and around my mind for quite some time. I am here to raise awareness to a disease which affects so many in a lot of different and equally difficult ways. From the physical to the emotional this disease affects individuals as well as whole groups of loved ones.

My Father James was taken from us at the early age of 50. He had just begun to show a family how much he loved and adored them. Constantly smiling and always with time to listen to us all as children.

We suddenly all found ourselves without a Father figure, that foundation that would hold us through the hardest of days. The embodiment of kindness, strength, understanding, forgiveness, to mention but a few were suddenly and forever taken away.

We as a family have had our Grandparents on my Father's side taken by cancer. My Grandmother on my Mothers side has been affected by the disease for some years now. Also, my Mother had been in a battle with cancer for some years (has been clear for a few years now). It is a disease that never stops taking or affecting us all.

But this does not mean we have to give up or give in.

Cancer is, of course, one of the biggest killers in the UK, a disease that takes from us and leaves nothing in return. But does it? I believe that through the hardship small fragments of light can be found and built upon. This is how I tackle each day, believing that more good can come from the loss of a loved one, that the good can outweigh the sometimes insurmountable grief that builds up from not being able to tell someone how much you love them.

From the helping of a friend through similarly difficult times, through the simple act of listening and understanding people can feel supported. I am cycling this route this summer in support of all those who are going through this harrowing experience in life on the firm belief that my small part in this world will make a difference to a few who are struggling.

Inspiration comes in many forms, for me, it is the belief
that we can do amazing things when we work together.

Thank you for your time.