Having lost our close friend Chris Hoyle in 2012 to brain cancer, we (James and Paul) wanted to do something to raise awareness of, and funds for, The Brain Tumour Charity.

Realising that whatever we did needed to stand out from the many other worthy fundraising activities that take place, we knew we had to do something attention-grabbing.

This is how Half Bike Heroes came to be, the plan being to ride silly distances on small-wheeled folding bikes or, as most people know them, Bromptons.

The first challenge we took on was in 2013 - the 170-mile Way of the Roses coast2coast bike ride from Morecambe on the Lancashire coast to Bridlington on the Yorkshire coast. 

Two years later we knew that we needed to do something bigger for the next fundraising event. We came up with the idea of lapping the Isle of Man TT circuit and, just to make things more interesting, we decided that we would do this for 24 hours. For this challenge we recruited Martin Hughes and Richard Dawson and, as a team, we completed 6 laps (230 miles). What we didn’t know at the time was that we were the first cyclists to ride around the TT course for 24 hours: 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-isle-of-man-34390395

It’s now three years on (we needed a break) and we are preparing for the next challenge. Maintaining the 24-hour and island theme, this time we are going to lap the Isle of Wight. We will do this as part of the island’s cycling festival ‘The Randonnee’ but, rather than one lap, we are aiming to complete three (230 miles) in 24 hours. The laps will of course be completed on our small-wheeled folding bikes.

Chris was 43 when he died; he was from a loving supportive family, was married with two boys, and had many friends. In doing what we do, we are hoping to keep Chris’s memory alive and help others who find themselves in a similar situation. As with our previous challenges, the money we raise will go to The Brain Tumour Charity, the UK's leading brain tumour charitable organisation.

Here are some facts as to why they need your money:

• Brain tumours are the biggest cancer killer of children and adults under the age of 40.
• Brain tumours reduce life expectancy by 20 years on average – the highest of any cancer.
• Over £500 million is spent on cancer research in the UK every year, yet less than 2% is spent on brain tumours.
• The Brain Tumour Charity does not receive any government or statutory funding and relies 100% on
  voluntary donations.

• With your help we can help them fund even more lifesaving research to improve the prospects for people with brain tumours. Here is how your money can help:
  

• £25 can cover the
  cost of providing essential information needed by someone currently living with
  a brain tumour.

• £50 can contribute to
  the funding of a crucial Clinical Trials Co-ordinator – the person who sets the brain tumour clinical trial up, runs the patient recruitment and processes the critical data.

• £100 can fund one support group meeting for people living with a brain tumour and their families.

• £250 can pay for one day’s research to further the understanding of a brain tumour in order to provide more targeted treatments.

It doesn't matter whether you can afford to give £1 or £250, it all goes towards our target.

Thank you for your support.

Half Bike Heroes