I am participating in this year's European Country 2 Country 4 Cancer (C2C4C) event, an 18-day cross-country bike ride to raise funds for cancer research and patient-focused charities. Now in its seventh year, the European C2C4C ride has raised almost $2.1 million in support of cancer research and charities. There will be six teams of over 90 riders, traversing across six European countries from Munich, Germany to Uxbridge (West of London), United Kingdom.

I am part of the team that rides for 3 days from Paris, France to Uxbridge, UK to raise funds for Maggie's and the Irish Cancer Society.

I, my wife, family and friends have all been affected either directly or by losing loved ones through cancer. I am riding in support and memory of all those close relatives and friends. 

A few words on Maggie's; originally founded in Edinburgh, Scotland by Maggie Keswick Jencks, the centres offer a different kind of cancer care so that "nobody would lose the joy of living in the fear of dying". I went to visit one of the Maggie's centres in London and was truly touched by the experience (and this does not happen very often); the moment you walk into the centre, you feel the warmth, the calmness and the incredible kindness by the staff and the volunteers and you just know that you are in a safe and supportive environment. 

Your contributions will go to a very worthy cause - thank you very much.