Iain's Land's End to John O'Groats Charity Cycle Challenge
Thursday 4th July 2024
Iain Christie
Iain Christie
Thursday 4th July 2024
Iain Christie
UK
3832
Cancer Research UK is the world's leading charity dedicated to research on the causes, treatment and prevention of cancer. Every donation helps to beat cancer.
At Young Lives vs Cancer, we help families find the strength to face everything cancer throws at them. We know everyone's different, so we work hard to provide support that’s easy to access and meets individual needs.
On the 4th July 2024, I will be starting my attempt to ride my bike from Land's End to John O'Groats (LEJOG) over 10 consecutive days.
This is going to be quite a challenge for me as a not-very-serious, middle-aged, club cyclist! The route will be just under 1000 miles, averaging 96 miles per day, with 17,000 metres of ascent (that's over twice the height of Everest!)
I've always wanted to ride "end to end", and as I've just turned the wrong side of 50, I thought I’d really better get on with it! I'm also doing the ride to support two very important cancer charities, Cancer Research UK, and Young Lives vs Cancer. Cancer needs no introduction, we all know family and friends who have either been taken from us due to this disease, or brave people currently living with cancer or it's effects.
The first charity, Cancer Research UK, funds scientists, doctors and nurses to help beat cancer sooner. They can trace their history back 120 years, and as well as cutting edge research, they also provide cancer information to the public, and work with the Government to help make decisions related to cancer research. Over the last 40 years, cancer survival in the UK has doubled...in the 1970’s just 1 in 4 people survived their disease for 10 years or more, where today 2 in 4 survive. Cancer Research UK's ambition is to accelerate progress and see 3 in 4 patients surviving the disease by 2034. But let's not forget…1 in 2 of us will get cancer in our lifetime.
The second charity, Young Lives vs Cancer, is the charity that helps children and young people (0-25) and their families find the strength to face whatever cancer throws at them, whatever the outcome. Cancer does not care if you are young or old, a fact sadly brought home when brave Barnaby Williams, a pupil at my son Ben's school, died in February this year aged just nine, after bravely battling a rare paediatric brain cancer called Medulloblastoma for six months in Birmingham Childrens' Hospital. Barnaby's parents Chris and Tina and his sister Beau have done an incredible job rallying with the school and wider community, and have raised a lot of money for Young Lives vs Cancer, so it really would mean a lot if you can help support my efforts here.
This givewheel page will automatically split your donation 50/50 between these two incredibly important charities. Needless to say, I am funding all of the trip myself.
Thank you for your support!
Do please follow my progress and keep in touch via my Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61560661646785 where I hope to be able to share the journey with you with regulare updates, photos and videos.
Kevin, Cliff and Johnny (the Lejog crew)
What a tough challenge that was but we did it as a team. There were long periods of misery but also many when we laughed. It was an experience we will cherish forever made better by you. We hope the money will come in handy for your charities
Dave Smith
A great effort, Iain. Delighted to throw in a bit in support of your endeavours.
Anonymous
Anonymous
Great work Iain. Now the Caterham will feel like the most comfortable seat in the world (when you’re able to sit down in it again I guess).
Simon Pollard
Well done mate, superb effort so far in lousy conditions….
Steph Tuson
Had to donate again after reading your incredible update on the team chat. You are incredible
Ian and Andrew
Loving the FB updates… Looks like an amazing and somewhat (very) wet time!!! Keep up the hard and good work.
The Steigers
An amazing challenge for 2 amazing charities. All the best Iain
Anonymous
Anonymous
Anonymous
Bloody amazing Iain, well done - and to do that and write such interesting daily reports is great. Good luck for the rest of the trip!
Carly Seager
Amazing challenge ,your doing brilliantly mate. Good cause.
Vince
Go for it Iain! All the best for a great ride for two great causes.
Anonymous
Good luck!
Tina (Barnaby & Beau mum)
Every penny makes a difference..such a worthy cause and what a challenge! Kudos! Good luck with the training 🙌
Adrian
Good luck chap! I’ve done a similar challenge and know how tough it is! Safe riding,
Steph Tuson
Good luck Iain, you are a true inspiration doing what you are doing for such worthy causes.
Jules, Paul, Luke & Sam Taylor
Well done, Iain! Two fantastic charities. Good luck with the ride and enjoy the scenery. X
Anonymous
It looks like you are outside of the UK.
Note, as only UK residents are able to make Gift Aid donations, you will not have the option to add Gift Aid when donating in a currency other than GBP.