In September 2013, 14 mountain bikers from BikeRadars ‘CrudCatcher’ are attempting an epic Welsh Coast to Coast ride from Llandudno in North Wales all the way to Port Talbot in the south!
This 6 day challenge is a massive 230 miles off road and Gaz, Sarah, Nick, Keith, Peter, Steve, Tom, Richard, Alex, Mark, Mike, Stuart, Sherome and Ben will be required to ride between 30 and over 40 miles per day.
There will be a lot of climbing - equivalent to riding up Snowdon twice each day!
Where possible, the ride will remain off-road. Short sections of road riding only being used to link to the next route and to bunkhouses.
The team have all decided to use this huge challenge to fundraise for the extremely worthwhile Cancer Research UK.
Sarah’s Mum, Pauline, bravely battled Multiple Myeloma (a form of bone cancer) for 5 years but sadly passed away in October 2012. During her treatment, Sarah’s Mum coped with a brutal regime of chemotherapy, stem cell transplants and radiotherapy. She participated in a trial funded by Cancer Research UK herself, and welcomed these potential new treatments. She firmly believed that to progress the way we treat and cure cancer, it is vital that this funding both exists and that brave people choose to take part in the first place.
Ben’s Dad has also been fighting prostate cancer for around 7 years. He only decided to tell Ben and his brothers about 5 years ago, as he got to the point where he needed to be treated by radio therapy and hormone injections. After a long period of seeing his Dad look pretty worse for wear, he finally got given the all clear just before Christmas 2012. It was hard, especially for Ben’s mum, but hopefully it is now all behind them.
Sadly, cancer does run in Bens family and a few of his family members have suffered - his Nan passed away after being diagnosed with cancer in 2002 and his cousin, Roberta, lost her fight against cancer early in 2013.
It is these very personal examples of courage and bravery, and the wish for Cancer Research UK to keep coming up with new treatments to beat all types of cancer, that will be the teams inspiration for 230 miles!
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