We are pedalling 500km from Pisa to Rome in 3 days in memory of John Stewart, husband, daddy, friend, colleague and sportsman.

John died in April, aged 49, of prostate cancer, after a three year battle with the disease which left him debilitated, yet still an inspiration to many.

In his heyday, he had cycled the 15,000 mile trip from New Zealand to the UK solo; rowed for Pembroke College, Cambridge, and later with his town club, Champion of the Thames; and, when diagnosed with cancer, battled with the odds to swim the equivalent of the English Channel in his local pool with his wife and two daughters, aged 13 and 9. In the weeks before his health deteriorated, he was still to be found on his bike. With 'his girls' he cycled 300 miles in 5 days in the Welsh borders!

By doing this ride, we want to prevent other fit young men from going through what John had to endure. We want to raise awareness for the disease, and money to help fight it. We're going to be cycling over 100 miles a day over hilly terrain in hot weather for the cause: please donate generously so it's all worthwhile!

We have an awesome line up of riders: friends from school, university, rowing and cycling fraternities, and colleagues from work.

You will see the line-up is moslty male as this is a male issue but some girls, including John's widow, Catherine and her cycle partner, Trish, are joining to keep them on their toes!

The cyclists are:

Richard Belcher, Guy Boyce-Cam, Edward Currie, Lucy Farrer, Greg Glass, Richard Hall, James Heath, Christopher Howe, Stephen Ives, Ewan Kirk, John Lane, Iain Law, John McNeil, Peter McNeil, Matthew Moore, Godric Smith, Catherine Stewart, Layton Tamberlin, Tim Tindall, Trish Turner, Wendy Turner, Jan Willen Van Crevel  Ivo Van Schaik, and Lee Vance.

Please dig deep and spread the word!