In July 2012 I cycled from Land's End to John O'Groats to raise money for the charity, Cure Leukaemia, in support of my terminally ill young friend Alice Hogan. Alice sadly died in August that year, two weeks after I finished the ride. She was thrilled that together we raised £73,000.

I am more motivated than ever to continue to raise money for Cure Leukaemia and the great work they are doing with extensive research based trials on new therapies for this disease.

This year I am riding from Zurich to Birmingham in 7 days via 7 other countries: 7 days, 7 countries, 700 miles. I'll be starting on 23rd and finishing on 29th September in Birmingham - where Cure Leukaemia are based.

I am dedicating this year's ride to another friend, Michael Jay, who has been in hospital in Cornwall receiving treatment for life threatening leukaemia. For many years Michael's gallery in Falmouth has been a place where we have spent many happy hours enjoying wonderful contemporary art as well as making the occasional investment.

I did my first long distance ride, almost by accident in 1976. There were six of us, all bored aged 16 in Blackpool and one of our parents thought it would be a good idea if we took our tents and cycled around England! The weather looked good so off we went, and we did it! We cycled 1760 miles in five weeks, had load of adventures and I was hooked.

In the intervening 38 years I've done a few long distance rides - along the Pyrenees, Land's End to John O' Groats, from home (in Hampshire) to Paris and back and a few others along the way.

I love cycling as it seems to be the perfect pace to see and to experience the wonderful world we live in and the people one meets along the way are generally very interesting and helpful.

The forthcoming trip will be challenging as the distances are quite long and we'll be heading over some high ground - which usually means sore legs.

I'm passionate about trying to help the cause for solving the leukaemia puzzle  - my best mate, when I was, 11 died of the disease and it's about time we got it cracked! So what better way to spend some time and energy by putting together to passions to try and raise a few more ££ to help the guys with the big brains sort this one out!

You were all very generous last year. Thank you again. If you can find a few quid for this years effort I know the money will be well spent and hopefully we will get a little closer to cracking a cure for this disease.

Here are some words from Michcel.

"To become affected by a blood cancer like leukaemia is to enter a shadowy world where uncertainty rules the roost.  I was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia on May 1st of this year and have been in the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro more or less ever since receiving the best treatment currently available.  Apart from the illness, lengthy periods of hospitalisation and the rigorous treatment, play havoc with family life and with the business of earning a living. So what an honour it is then to be asked to personify and represent leukaemia sufferers, in the heroic plans of Nigel Southern and friends to cycle 700 miles in seven days, across seven countries to raise funds in support of Cure Leukaemia. Seven days of blood, sweat and tears lie ahead for these brave and selfless riders as they strive to raise funds for research that will improve the prognoses of me and fellow sufferers."  

Michael Jay, West Cornwall, September 2013