Stage 2

This will not be the first time I have done a long bike ride! In fact, you could say I've been around a bit. In my time I have ridden in the Alps, the Pyrenees, the Rockies and have even been mountain biking in the Himalayas.

My love of cycling really started when Helen and I took a year off, many years ago now, and cycled through Europe to Israel. We enjoyed the experience so much that we decided to cycle home six months later!

More recently, we rode together from London to Paris and with our dog Monty even did a charity ride from Bristol to London together! All this must add up to many thousands of miles.

But never have I tried to tackle a trip of over 100 miles a day for 9 days non stop. The RAB seemed a fitting target for such a good cause.

Stage 1

So, why am I doing this ride and what is the Sam keen Foundation all about?

Sam Keen was my nephew. He died of malignant melanoma in November 2011. Sam touched the lives of all who knew him. His overriding thought throughout his long illness was to remain positive and protect all those around him. He fought his cancer for 7 years; with dignity, great courage and a total lack of self pity.

Undergoing over twenty operations to remove tumours, Sam endured chemotherapy, radiotherapy, gamma knife brain radiotherapy and several cutting-edge experimental melanoma drugs.

At the forefront of the fight against malignant melanoma is Sam’s oncologist for the entire 7 years, Professor Martin Gore, Medical Director of the Royal Marsden Hospital, the UK’s centre of excellence for cancer treatment. Sam’s wife and family are aiming to raise £100,000 to help Professor Gore in his fight against this cruel disease.

We are asking everyone to contribute to The Sam Keen Foundation, the vehicle being used for us all to remember Sam’s heroic fight. To donate online, simply follow the link to my Justgiving page and don’t forget to tick the Gift Aid box.

The prologue

This is just to explain the name of this blog.

My name is Richard Anthony Barcan (RAB). In September 2012 I shall be taking part in the Ride Across Britain (RAB), a major cycling challenge from Lands End to John o'Groats - just under 1000 miles in 9 days (no rest days!) with over 20,000 meters of climbing.

The aim of my ride is to raise £10,000 to help the Royal Marsden Hospital in its fight against the skin cancer malignant melanoma via The Sam Keen Foundation.

I will use this blog to keep my family, friends and supporters updated with how my training is going and on the ride itself.

Hence RAB's RAB bits