The Premise

On June 20th, I will be voluntarily participating in an act of recreational riding masochism known as "Chase the Sun."

... keep reading for the reason why.. it is important

The concept is simple, in the way that falling off a cliff is simple:

* Start riding a bicycle at sunrise (04:30 AM).

* Keep riding for 205 miles.

* Try to reach the finish line before the sun sets.

That is roughly 14 to 16 hours of continuous pedalling from one coast to the other.

The Route: Coast-2-Coast: Tour of England’s Tarmac

The route is a coast-to-coast epic. We begin on the Isle of Sheppey, the glorious eastern edge of England where the sun decides to clock in for the day.

From there, I will navigate the chaotic sprawl of South London and traverse the unsuspecting countryside. Cruelly, the route takes me almost past my own front door around the halfway mark. I will have to summon every ounce of willpower not to simply turn left, go home, and order a pizza.

Instead, I will carry on until I—assuming my legs haven't resigned in protest—finish on the pier in Weston-super-Mare.

For those unfamiliar with Weston, it is a seaside town famous for having a sea that is often several miles away from the beach. My goal is to arrive there in time to see the sunset. If I am too slow, I will arrive in the dark, likely hallucinogenic from exhaustion, staring at a patch of damp mud.

The Reason (Why am I doing this?)

I am not doing this because I enjoy wearing tight synthetic fabrics in public. I am doing this because Kate, my wife, was recently diagnosed with Sjögren's Syndrome/disease.

If you’re sitting there thinking, "How on earth do I pronounce that?" or "Is that a shelving unit from IKEA?" you have successfully identified the problem.

It is a chronic, autoimmune disease that is as difficult to spell as it is to live with. It is the second most common rheumatic autoimmune condition, yet it remains bafflingly underfunded, under-diagnosed, and largely ignored. It attacks the body's moisture-producing glands, causing severe fatigue and joint pain, among a host of other charming symptoms.

(Oh, and it is pronounced Show-grens. Not actually that hard, is it?)

Kate deals with this daily with a stoicism that puts my complaints about "saddle sore" to shame. However, since I cannot fix her immune system, I have decided to destroy my own physical well-being to raise awareness and funds for the British Sjögren's Syndrome Association (BSSA).

The Exchange

I am asking for your money. In return, I offer you the satisfaction of knowing that while you are having a pleasant Saturday, I will be:

* Ingesting energy gels that taste like wallpaper paste.

* Battling the Mendip Hills and Cheddar Gorge after 180 miles of riding (a geological hate crime).

* Regretting every life choice that led me to a start line in Kent.

All donations go to the BSSA to fund vital research and support. Please give generously. The more you donate, the less I am allowed to complain about the chafing.