The Challenge - In October this year this year a group of around 60 cyclists from across the UK will set out on a tough 508km (315 mile) journey through the foothills of the western Himalayas.

·         -  cycling for 8 consecutive days, from Amritsar to Shimla

·         -  spending up to 8 hours a day riding, averaging 70km daily on tarmac roads and dirt tracks

·         -  tackling several highly strenuous climbs with little flat terrain

·        -   reaching a high point of  3,130m (10,269 feet) at the Jalori Pass

For the cyclists the challenge will be the culmination of many months of hard training and fund-raising for Macmillan Cancer Support. By February the group had raised more than £40,000 – a figure that, through the generosity of supporters, will swell to hundreds of thousands of pounds.

Stan Arnaud -  Stan (50) lives in Contin, Ross-shire, with his wife Judith and their children Joe (13) and Kirsty (10).  An account director for PR firm Weber Shandwick he works with clients  across the north of Scotland from the company’s offices in Inverness and Aberdeen.

Like many who take part in charity fund-raising activity, Stan has strong personal reasons for doing so. He started fund-raising for Macmillan in appreciation of the support they have given his family when it was needed most.

This will be the third overseas cycling challenge he has undertaken with the charity.  In 2010 he cycled 680km in Central America from Panama, though Costa Rica, to Nicaragua and in 2012 he completed a 550km cycle from Kenya to Tanzania.

Sponsorship and money from fund-raising events for this latest challenge will take the total Stan has raised to help fund the vital work of Macmillan Cancer Support since 2010 to over £12,000.

Supporting Stan/Helping Macmillan - Stan, along with everyone taking part in the challenge, is committed to raising a minimum of £3,950 for Macmillan Cancer Support.  At least 63% of that sum will benefit the charity, with the balance being spent on trip costs.  One hundred per cent of any money raised over the £3,950 minimum will go to funding Macmillan’s vital work.

Please consider sponsoring Stan to take part in this tough challenge. You can make a donation now using the link on this page.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to Macmillan Cancer Support. So it’s the most efficient way to donate – saving time and cutting costs for the charity.