In August I will take on a 1,400 mile+ challenge (complete with new hip!) to raise funds for breast cancer research.

The first five Nottingham Life Cycles raised over £2 million for a number of compelling causes.  This year I have set a target of raising £1 million, more than for any previous challenge.  That can fairly be described as a 'stretch target'

But, I have a great team of 13 riders who will cycle those 1,400 miles in mid-August, around the four points of the compass in Great Britain - Lizard Point, Lowestoft Ness, Ardnamurchan Point and Dunnet Head - in that order.  Moreover, we also have 60 riders taking on two big weekend challenges ahead of that: Lochs and Glens (from Inverness to Glasgow) and Way of the Roses (from Bridlington to Morecambe).

We are all inspired by the cause.  Breast cancer is the second most prevalent cancer globally.  In the UK alone 58,000 new cases are diagnosed every year and no fewer than 1 in 8 women will experience the disease in their lifetime.

The research we are supporting is targeted at earlier detection; therapies to manage the spread of the disease; and personalized treatment.  Clearly they are all related; the earlier clinicians can make a diagnosis, the more likely they are to manage its progression and the higher the likelihood of genuinely personalized therapy.

So I hope you will support me in taking on this challenge, and to support a great cause.

For me, this will be my final Nottingham Life Cycle, and I am extra determined to make the biggest contribution possible to that £1 million target.

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