Trip complete! From Pacific Coast to East Coast and back in a shade under 7 days, covering 5200 nautical miles and over 50 flying hours. Thank you to you all for your wishes and generocity. James & David.

In the autumn of 2006 I lost a very close aunt to a unforgiving and  aggressive cancer. She was taken in just 7 months from diagnosis. It has been my wish since then to raise as much money and awareness as I possibly can for "ochre", the national charity for oesophageal cancer. Not only do they help to promote awareness, but they also provide funding for equipment for early diagnosis. This is my journey...

David Mack has kindly offered to help me complete an epic adventure in her memory. In early August 2009 we plan to fly from California to Florida and back in a single engine Cessna 172. We are both pilots of similar experience.

5000 miles in under a week is the serious challenge. Nearly equivalent to flying from London to Johannesburg in a small plane. We have to cross the United States, a formidable land of huge mountain ranges, vast deserts, canyons and swampland. A place though where modern aviation was born. The home of the Wright Brothers and Amelia Earhart. 

The challenge is to navigate this enormous country from Pacific to Atlantic coast and back using tradition navigation methods and a hand held GPS.  That means we may have to track north or south by significant margins to avoid powerful summer storms. The trip has to be completed under visual flight rules (VFR), which means no instrument flying through weather.

I hope this epic journey captures the imagination. There will be no satellite weather available in the air, no onboard traffic avoidance systems. This Cessna was built in 1973. Please help us raise money and awareness for oesophageal cancer through "ochre" in the memory of my aunt, Carole Godding.

Donating through Justgiving is quick, easy and totally secure. It’s also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Ochre - a national cancer charity gets your money faster and, if you’re a UK taxpayer, Justgiving makes sure 25% in Gift Aid, plus a 3% supplement, are added to your donation.

Please sponsor us now and spare us a thought in early August. Losing family reminds us how precious time is. Many thanks, James Reader