On 9th June this year we are cycling, mostly off-road, from Land’s End to John o’ Groats. This is a distance of approximately 1100 miles. Yes, you did just read that correctly. One thousand and one hundred miles: 'Och aye, that's a wee ride' was the comment from one of our Scottish friends. Of which it isn't, but 'A Wee Ride' is a great title for such an awesome undertaking. More than 1000 miles, of which, as a minimum, we are committed to doing 600 miles 'off-road'. This will be an incredible challenge. Spirit sapping, bone shaking, and rear posterior protesting. Who'd have thought that at the age of 46 years old, Scott and I, are having conversation's about padded pants! 'Och aye, them's a wee pair ae padded pants!' one said to the other in a very bad accent. However, our challenge does not end here, oh no! Where possible, and when weather permits, we will be wild camping. This means carrying 'stuff' on our bikes: -ourselves, Scott's extra weight, my hair piece, sleeping bags, bivi bags, ground sheets, inner tubes, multi bike tools, extra clothes, phones, extra phones, phone battery packs, our pride, and yes, of course, those padded pants! The route starts in Cornwall, Lands End. It includes, among others, Dartmoor, the Cotswolds, various canal towpaths, bridleways and footpaths, The West Highland Way (yes, please re-read this sentence, I did just say 'The West Highland Way!'), and the shores of Loch Ness. We aim to, hopefully, finish in John o’ Groats at some point on the weekend of the 1st July 2023. At that moment, I hope to never see a pair of padded pants ever again. In taking on this herculean challenge, Scott and I are raising money for ALK Positive UK, a charity that supports those diagnosed with ALK-positive lung cancer.

Scott: - ‘In February 2021 our lives were changed forever when my wife, Sarah, was diagnosed with incurable stage 4 lung cancer. Tests after this devastating diagnosis revealed very slightly better news. These tests revealed Sarah had the rarer ALK-Positive form of cancer. This is a lung cancer that often affects younger non-smokers. This form of the disease, whilst incurable, is treatable with a daily tablet. This treatment can add years to life expectancy. Some 2 years later, Sarah is enjoying a relatively normal family life, all thanks to a new drug that has only been developed in the last 10 years. As a husband you can often feel powerless in this situation, but the one thing I have decided is to do an annual challenge/fundraiser to help the brilliant ALK+ UK charity that have supported us, and so many other families like us. This year’s challenge is, putting it mildly, a big one! As detailed above, Land’s End to John o’ Groats, mostly off road, whilst wild camping, will be a huge task for 2 middle aged men, with one working back between them and with one carrying a few extra kg! Please, please donate if you can. With heartfelt thanks from Scott, Sarah, Robyn, and Tommy.’

Ben:- ‘I have been inspired to undertake this challenge in support of the Sharman family, my god daughter, Robyn, her brother Tommy, one of my closest friends Scott, and most importantly of all, Sarah. Sarah, and the Sharman family have been an immense source of inspiration to me over the last 2 years and of what it means to live with cancer. When Scott first asked me to join him on a charity bike ride for a few days, as you can imagine, my first response was a hearty, ‘Yes!’. When Scott then detailed the exact challenge, and amount of effort and time required, whilst my yes was a little less emphatic, it still felt right that I should support him in this rather immense task. At the end of the day, our challenge is just riding a bike, right? There are others, like Sarah, who have the much more difficult challenge of living with cancer. Sarah, Robyn, Scott, and Tommy have found great support from ALK Positive UK. Please help support this wonderful charity with your donation, so they, in turn, can help offer support to those families and individuals at a time when it is most needed.’

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